Communication method

ABSTRACT

According to the present invention, the step of requesting of an associated information provision server KS for associated information about contents broadcast in a broadcast program being received is provided. The step of acquiring the associated information corresponding to the request from the associated information provision server KS and storing this is provided. And the retrieval step of transmitting a part of the associated information as a retrieval key to retrieve contents to a CD seller server  31 , and obtaining retrieval results from the CD seller server  31  is provided. Thereby, the associated information about the contents broadcast in the broadcast program being received is obtained. The retrieval results are obtained from a contents retrieval server by using the part of the associated information as retrieval keys. Therefore, retrieval results having variety that are not limited to results conceived by the user in a certain degree can be obtained.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityfrom U.S. Ser. No. 10/554,542, filed on Oct. 25, 2005, which is acontinuation of PCT Application No. PCT/JP04/07026 filed May 18, 2004,which claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent ApplicationNos. 2003-274302, filed Jul. 14, 2003, 2003-291741, filed Aug. 11, 2003,2003-313167, filed Sep. 4, 2003 and 2003-332564, filed Sep. 24, 2003.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a communication method forappropriately searching for desired contents by a contents retrievalserver, for example.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, radio receivers are used for audio stereo reproductionsystems such as all-in-one stereo systems and separate stereocomponents, portable audio systems, car-mounted audio systems. The radioreceiver receives and demodulates broadcast signals broadcast from aradio station and allows users to listen to programs and musicalcompositions.

On the other hand, the radio station publicizes various informationabout its programs on the Internet home page, and as well as thebroadcasting of the programs, provides musical composition informationabout musical compositions broadcast in the programs such as theirtitles and artist names, to the audiences as associated information.

There is proposed an audio reproduction apparatus as a client terminalhaving the radio reception function and the Internet connection functionimplemented in one system that simultaneously performs listening ofradio programs and acquisition of musical composition information (seePatent Document 1, for example).

This audio reproduction apparatus allows a user to listen to a programfrom the above audio reproduction apparatus and acquire the contents ofmusical compositions broadcast in the program from the radio station,and acquire musical composition information such as the titles and theartist names related to the above musical compositions from apredetermined associated information provision server.

-   Patent Document 1—Patent Application No. 2003-274302

The audio reproduction apparatus transmits for example the title or theartist name in the associated information obtained from the associatedinformation provision server to a CD seller server, gets the CD searchedbased on the title or the artist name by the above CD seller server, andcan receive the retrieval result from the CD seller server.

By the way, in the aforementioned audio reproduction apparatus, theassociation information to be transmitted to the CD seller server islimited to the title and the artist name. The retrieval result by the CDseller server is about CDs having that title and CDs containing the sameartist name. The retrieval result has no variety, and there has been aproblem that a desired CD cannot be always searched.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Considering the above point, the present invention has been done andprovides a communication method in which retrieval results havingvariety based on associated information can be easily obtained.

To solve the above problem, in a communication method according to thepresent invention, the request step of requesting of an associatedinformation provision server for associated information about contentsbroadcast in a broadcasting program being received, the associatedinformation acquisition step of acquiring the associated informationcorresponding to the request from the associated information provisionserver, and storing the associated information in storage means, and thesearch step of transmitting a part of the associated information asretrieval keys for searching for the contents to a contents retrievalserver, and obtaining retrieval results from the contents retrievalserver, are provided.

The associated information about the contents broadcast in abroadcasting program being received is acquired, and a part of theassociated information is used as retrieval keys to obtain retrievalresults in the contents retrieval server. Thereby, retrieval resultshaving variety that are not limited to results conceived by the user ina certain degree can be obtained.

In a communication terminal apparatus according to the presentinvention, request means for requesting of an associated informationprovision server for associated information about contents broadcast ina broadcasting program being received, associated informationacquisition means for acquiring the associated information correspondingto the request from the associated information provision server, andstoring the associated information in storage means, and search meansfor transmitting a part of the associated information as retrieval keysfor contents retrieval to a contents retrieval server, and obtainingretrieval results from the contents retrieval server, are provided.

The associated information about the contents broadcast in abroadcasting program being received is acquired, and a part of theassociated information is used as retrieval keys to obtain retrievalresults in the contents retrieval server. Thereby, retrieval resultshaving variety that are not limited to results conceived by the user ina certain degree can be obtained.

Further, a communication program according to the present inventionmakes an information processing apparatus execute the request step ofrequesting of an associated information provision server for associatedinformation about contents broadcast in a broadcasting program beingreceived, the associated information acquisition step of acquiring theassociated information corresponding to the request from the associatedinformation provision server, and storing the associated information instorage means, and the search step of transmitting a part of theassociated information as retrieval keys for searching for the contentsto a contents retrieval server, and obtaining retrieval results from thecontents retrieval server.

The associated information about the contents broadcast in abroadcasting program being received is acquired, and a part of theassociated information is used as retrieval keys to obtain retrievalresults in the contents retrieval server. Thereby, retrieval resultshaving variety that are not limited to results conceived by the user ina certain degree can be obtained.

Further, in a communication method according to the present invention, afirst server receives a request signal to request associated informationabout contents broadcast in a broadcasting program being received, froma broadcast receiving apparatus together with user information,authorizes the user information. If the authentication of the userinformation is permitted, the first server transmits the associatedinformation to the broadcast receiving apparatus. And a second serverreceives broadcasting station identification information being a part ofthe associated information as retrieval keys for contents retrieval,from the broadcast receiving apparatus. The second server retrievesinformation corresponding to the above retrieval keys from databases instorage media under the retrieval keys, and transmits the information asretrieval results to the broadcast receiving apparatus.

According to the present invention, the associated information about thecontents broadcast in a broadcasting program being received is acquired,and a part of the associated information is used as retrieval keys toobtain retrieval results in the contents retrieval server. Thereby, acommunication method, a communication terminal apparatus, and acommunication program in that retrieval results having variety that arenot limited to results conceived by the user in a certain degree can beobtained, can be realized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of aninformation provision system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a radiostation.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of anassociated information provision server.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a CDseller server.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing the circuit configuration ofa client terminal.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining directory management ofcontents.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing program modules of the clientterminal.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a clipping sequence of musicalcomposition information associated with musical compositions in a radioprogram.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a clipping sequence of musicalcomposition information associated with musical compositions in a CD.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the data configuration of aclipping information database.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining the directory of themusical composition information.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining chaining deletion.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a retrieval sequence usingassociated information.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of amusic related service provision system according to the presentembodiment.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of aclient terminal using functional circuit blocks.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of aportal server using functional circuit blocks.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a musicdata delivery server using functional circuit blocks.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a tradeserver using functional circuit blocks.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a radiobroadcast information delivery server using functional circuit blocks.

FIG. 20 is a sequence chart showing a user authentication processbetween the client terminal and the portal server.

FIG. 21 is a sequence chart showing a user authentication processbetween the client terminal and the music data delivery server.

FIG. 22 is a sequence chart showing a music data delivery serviceprovision process.

FIG. 23 is a sequence chart showing a trade service provision process.

FIG. 24 is a sequence chart showing a radio broadcast information(on-air list information) delivery service provision process (1).

FIG. 25 is a sequence chart showing a radio broadcast information(now-on-air information) delivery service provision process (2).

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

(1) First Embodiment

(1-1) Overall Configuration of Information Provision System

As shown in FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 denotes an informationprovision system constituting the present invention as a whole. A clientterminal CT receives broadcast from a radio station RS.

In the information provision system 1, the radio station RS connectswith an associated information provision server KS comprising acomputer. A leased line is used for this connection. In place of theradio station RS, the associated information provision server KSprovides a home page of the radio station RS. In response to anacquisition request from the client terminal CT, the associatedinformation provision server KS can provide musical compositioninformation as associated information about musical compositionsbroadcast from the radio station RS via a network 2 such as theInternet.

Furthermore, the information provision system 1 is connected to acompact disc (CD) seller server 31 via the network 2. Based on aretrieval key transmitted from the client terminal CT as a part of theassociated information, the information provision system 1 retrieves aCD including a musical composition desired by the user of the aboveclient terminal CT, and provides the retrieval result to the clientterminal CT via the network 2.

When the user performed the procedure to purchase the desired CD fromthe above CD seller server 31 by a shopping based on the retrievalresult provided from the CD seller server 31, the client terminal CTtransmits a proper CD number to specify the CD to the CD seller server31.

The CD seller server 31 performs selling procedure to deliver the CDcorresponding to the CD number received from the client terminal CT tothe user's house, and also executes credit settlement processing.

“C”

(1-1) Configuration of Radio Station RS

As shown in FIG. 2, the radio station RS includes a control section 70comprising a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control section 70 usesa ROM (Read Only Memory) 71 and RAM (Random Access Memory) 72 to startbasic programs such as an OS (Operating System) and various applicationprograms. Based on these programs, the control section 70 controls theentire system in a unified fashion. The radio station RS performsprocesses such as program broadcasting to broadcast programs from abroadcast transmission section 73 to the client terminal CT via anantenna 74.

The radio station RS uses a content database 75 to store many contentssuch as previously recorded programs and musical compositions to bebroadcast in the programs. The radio station RS broadcasts the programaccording to a program schedule and broadcasts musical compositioncontents in the program as needed.

In this case, the radio station RS uses a data communication processingsection 76 to notify the associated information provision server KS thatmusical compositions are broadcast in the program. In addition, theradio station RS notifies the associated information provision server KSwhat program is currently being broadcast.

(1-1-2) Configuration of Associated Information Provision Server

As shown in FIG. 3, the associated information provision server KSincludes a control section 90 comprising a CPU. The control section 90uses a ROM 91 and RAM 92 to start basic programs such as an OS andvarious application programs. Based on these programs, the associatedinformation provision server KS performs overall control, specifiedoperations, and the like.

The associated information provision server KS searches a musicalcomposition information database 93 for musical composition informationabout musical compositions broadcast in a program by the radio stationRS, for example. The associated information provision server KS providesthe musical composition information as associated information to theclient terminal CT via the data communication processing section 95.

Further, the associated information provision server KS searches aprogram information database 94 for program information aboutperformers, a DJ name, genres, and the like associated with a programbroadcast by the radio station RS. The associated information provisionserver KS provides the program information as associated information tothe client terminal CT via the data communication processing section 95.

Furthermore, the associated information provision server KS stores a CDtitle information provision database 96 in which titles, artist names,genres, CD numbers, and the like about CDs being on sale are managed ina database. In response to a retrieval request from a client terminalCT, the associated information provision server KS provides theretrieval result of CDs based on a retrieval key to the client terminalCT.

(1-1-3) Configuration of CD Seller Server

As shown in FIG. 4, a CD seller server 31 includes a control section 110comprising a CPU. The control section 110 uses a ROM 111 and RAM 112 tostart basic programs such as an OS and various application programs.Based on these programs, the CD seller server 31 performs overallcontrol, specified operations, and the like.

This CD seller server 31 retrieves a CD contain a music componentdesired by the user of the above client terminal CT by a CD retrievaldatabase 113 based on the retrieval key transmitted from the clientterminal CT, and provides a CD number being the retrieval result to theclient terminal CT sequentially via a data communication processingsection 115 and the network 2.

After that, if the procedure to purchase a CD corresponding to the aboveCD number by shopping is performed by the user via the client terminalCT, and the CD seller server 31 receives that CD number from the aboveclient terminal CT, the CD seller server 31 executes credit settlementprocessing by an account database 114, as well as selling procedure todeliver the CD corresponding to the above CD number to the user's house.

(1-1-4) Circuit Configuration of Client Terminal CT

As shown in FIG. 5, a CPU 11 of the client terminal CT reads basicprograms such as an OS and various application programs from a ROM 13connected via a bus 12 and expands the programs in a RAM 20. Based onthese programs, the CPU 11 performs overall control, specifiedoperations, and the like. For example, the CPU 11 performs communicationoperations via the network 2, input/output operations in relation tousers, reproduction of contents from media, writing of contentsdownloaded from the radio station RS onto a hard disk drive (HDD) 21,management of contents, and the like.

An operation input section 15 sends input information to an inputprocessing section 14. The input information corresponds to useroperations for various operation devices provided on the surface of themain unit cabinet or a remote controller (not shown). The inputprocessing section 14 applies specified processes to the inputinformation and sends it as an operation command to the CPU 11. The CPU11 performs processes corresponding to the operation command.

A display 17 represents a display device such as a liquid crystaldisplay and may be directly attached to the surface of the main unitcabinet or may be externally connected. The display 17 displaysprocessing results from the CPU 11 and the other various information.

A media drive 19 reproduces, for example, a CD (Compact Disc) player ora Memory Stick (registered trademark) comprising a flash memory and thelike. An audio data processing section 24 digital-to-analog converts thereproduction result which is then output from a 2-channel speaker 25.

When the CPU 11 reproduces data, e.g., a musical composition's audiocontent via the media drive 19, the audio content can be stored as anaudio data file in a hard disk drive 21.

Further, the CPU 11 uses the media drive 19 to read a plurality of stillpictures stored in Memory Stick. These still pictures can be displayedas a slideshow on the display 17 via a display processing section 16.

In addition, the CPU 11 can randomly access and read a plurality ofmusical compositions stored in the hard disk drive 21 to reproduce themusical compositions in a user-specified order like a jukebox.

A tuner section 27 is equivalent to an AM or FM radio tuner, forexample. The tuner section 27 demodulates a broadcast signal received atan antenna 26 under the control of the CPU 11. The result, as abroadcast audio, is passed to the audio data processing section 24 andis output from the speaker 25.

A communication processing section 22 encodes transmission data underthe control of the CPU 11. The communication processing section 22 usesa network interface 23 to transmit data to external network-compliantdevices via a network 2. The communication processing section 22 usesthe network interface 23 to receive data from external network-compliantdevices and decodes the received data. The communication processingsection 22 then transfers the decoded data to the CPU 11.

(1-1-5) Directory Management of Contents

The CPU 11 of the client terminal CT manages contents to be stored inthe hard disk drive 21 according to directory structure as shown in FIG.6. There are created any number of “folder” directories within aspecified range under a “root” directory. The “folder” directory iscreated in accordance with a genre of contents, an owner user, and thelike.

Under the “folder” directory, there are created any number of “album”directories within a specified range. The “album” directory correspondsto one album title, for example. The “album” directory stores one ormore “track” files belonging to the “album” directory. That is to say,the “track” file is equivalent to one musical composition, i.e., acontent.

A database file is stored in the hard disk drive 21 and is used for thedirectory management of contents.

(1-1-6) Program Module Configuration of Client Terminal CT

As shown in FIG. 7, the client terminal CT comprises program modulesoperating under the OS. Specifically, the client terminal CT interactswith various servers such as a CD seller server 31 to sell CDs, anInternet radio server 32, a music delivery operation server 33, anoverall service server 34, and the associated information provisionserver KS.

An HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) message program uses HTTPcommunication to interact with various servers such as the CD sellerserver 31, the overall service server 34 to provide overall services,and the associated information provision server KS. A communicatorprogram 37 is a communication module to communicate with the overallservice server 34 and the like.

Above the communicator program 37, there are a content reproductionmodule 38 and a copyright protection information management module 39.The content reproduction module 38 interprets codec information ofcontents and reproduces the contents. The copyright protectioninformation management module 39 handles information about copyrightprotection. The content reproduction module 38 and the copyrightprotection information management module 39 correspond to an Internetradio channel selection/reproduction module 43 and a musical compositionpurchase/reproduction module 44, respectively. The Internet radiochannel selection/reproduction module 43 selects and reproduces Internetradio channels. The musical composition purchase/reproduction module 44controls purchase of musical compositions and reproduces samples.

An XML (eXtensible Markup Language) browser 50 is positioned above theInternet radio channel selection/reproduction module 43 and the musicalcomposition purchase/reproduction module 44. The XML browser 50interprets XML files from various servers and displays them on thedisplay 17.

For example, a user selects a musical composition using the XML browser50. The selected musical composition is purchased through the musicalcomposition purchase/reproduction module 44 and is written to the harddisk drive 21 via a hard disk contents controller 42.

The communicator program 37 connects with an authentication library 47Aof a library 47. The authentication library 47A authenticates variousservers such as the overall service server 34.

Above the communicator program 37, there are a database access module40, a content data access module 41, and a hard disk contents controller42.

The database access module 40 accesses various databases configured inthe hard disk drive 21. The content data access module 41 accessescontents stored in the hard disk drive 21. The hard disk contentscontroller 42 manages contents stored in the hard disk drive 21.

Above the hard disk contents controller 42, there are an associatedinformation display module 45 and a tunerselection/reproduction/recording module 46. The associated informationdisplay module 45 displays titles and artist names of musicalcompositions broadcast by the radio station RS. The tunerselection/reproduction/recording module 46 selects a radio station RSand records musical composition contents received from the radio stationRS on the hard disk drive 21.

For example, when a musical composition is received from the radiostation RS selected via an audio user interface 51, the received musicalcomposition is written to the hard disk drive 21 via the content dataaccess module 41.

The associated information display module 45 receives associatedinformation from the associated information provision server KS via theHTTP message program 36. The associated information includes titles andartist names of the musical compositions currently broadcast by theradio station RS corresponding to the tunerselection/reproduction/recording module 46. The associated informationis displayed on the display 17 via the audio user interface (UI) 51.

The associated information which can be displayed on the display 17 viathe audio user interface 51 can also be temporarily stored in a cliplibrary 47B of the library 47. According to a user instruction, theassociated information is finally stored in the hard disk drive 21 viathe database access module 40.

The other program modules for the client terminal CT include a CDreproduction module 48 and an HDD reproduction module 49. The CDreproduction module 48 reproduces CDs. The HDD reproduction module 49reproduces the hard disk drive 21. A reproduction result is output viathe audio data processing section 24 and the speaker 25.

(1-2) Clipping Process Sequence of Associated Information

Clipping sequences of associated information will be described. One isthe sequence when the client terminal CT acquires associated informationcontaining musical composition information about musical compositionsbroadcast in a program by a radio station RS from the associatedinformation provision server KS, and performs clipping of the associatedinformation. Another is the sequence when the client terminal CTacquires associated information containing musical compositioninformation about a specified CD out of data in a CD title informationprovision database 96 previously stored in the associated informationprovision server KS, and performs clipping of associated information.

(1-2-1) Clipping Sequence of Musical Composition Information aboutMusical Compositions in Program

The clipping process will be described with reference to FIG. 8. Theprocess is when the client terminal CT performs the clipping of theassociated information containing musical composition information aboutmusical compositions broadcast by the radio station RS in a program.

At step SP1, the radio station RS starts broadcasting a programscheduled for the time. The radio station RS proceeds to the next stepSP2. At step SP2, after starting broadcasting a musical composition A inthe program, the radio station RS notifies the associated informationprovision server KS that the musical composition A has started beingbroadcast.

At step SP11, the associated information provision server KS uses themusical composition information database 93 (FIG. 3), to maintainmusical composition information associated with a plurality of types ofmusical compositions. More specifically, the musical compositioninformation includes titles and artist names concerning a plurality oftypes of musical compositions, names and numbers of CDs that record thecorresponding musical compositions, and the like. It is necessary toprovide the client terminal CT with musical composition informationassociated with musical composition A notified from the radio stationRS. For this purpose, the associated information provision server KSupdates the previous musical composition information to musicalcomposition information associated with musical composition A, and thenproceeds to the next step SP12.

By the way, at step SP21, the client terminal CT receives and listens tothe program broadcast by the radio station RS at step SP1, so that alsothe musical composition A broadcast in that program can be received andthe user can listen to it. And then, the client terminal CT proceeds tothe next step SP22.

At step SP22, the client terminal CT performs polling by transmitting anacquisition request for the musical composition information to theassociated information provision server KS at an interval of 30 seconds.The musical composition information includes titles and artist namesassociated with musical composition A. The client terminal CT thenproceeds to the next step SP23.

At step SP12, in response to the acquisition request from the clientterminal CT, the associated information provision server KS provides themusical composition information about musical composition A currentlystoring to provide to the client terminal CT, via the network 2, andthen proceeds to the next step SP13.

The client terminal CT displays the associated information containingthe musical information about the musical composition A provided fromthe associated information provision server KS on the display 17.Thereby, the user can know the associated information containing themusical component information such as the titles and the artist names ofmusical component A broadcast in the program.

The musical composition information according to the present inventionincludes not only titles and artist names but also CD numbers,broadcasting station identification information used to specify theradio station RS being supplier that broadcast the musical compositionA, media identification information used to specify recording media thatrecord the musical composition.

At step SP23, when 30 minutes passed from the last acquisition request,the client terminal CT transmits again the acquisition request formusical composition information to the associated information provisionserver KS.

At this time, at step SP13, the associated information provision serverKS provides again musical composition information about musicalcomposition A to the client terminal CT via the network 2.

The client terminal CT acquires musical composition information aboutmusical composition A up to the musical composition information aboutmusical composition A currently stored to be provided by the associatedinformation provision server KS is updated to musical compositioninformation about musical composition that will be broadcast next. Themusical composition information about musical composition A is displayedon the display 17 as the associated information until updated. A methodfor providing musical composition information by the associatedinformation provision server KS will be described later as a secondembodiment.

At step SP24, the client terminal CT performs clipping of the musicalcomposition information about musical composition A provided from theassociated information provision server KS as the associated informationin the hard disk drive 21, and then proceeds to the next step SP25.

At step SP25, the client terminal CT acquires musical compositioninformation about musical composition B, musical composition C . . .following the musical composition information about musical compositionA from the associated information provision server KS, and also performsclipping of it in the hard disk drive 21. In this manner, a clippinginformation database related to associated information about musicalcompositions is created.

(1-2-2) Clipping Sequence of Musical Composition Information Related toMusical compositions in CD

Clipping process will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The clientterminal CT performs clipping of associated information containingmusical composition information about a specified CD from amonginformation in the CD title information provision database 96 previouslystored in the associated information provision server KS.

At step SP31, the client terminal CT selects a CD recording a musicalcomposition to be reproduced by the media drive 19 on a select screen(not shown) on the display 17. The client terminal CT then proceeds tothe next step SP32.

At step SP32, the client terminal CT reproduces a CD including the musiccomposition selected on the select screen by the media drive 19.

At step SP33, the client terminal CT requests the associated informationprovision server KS to acquire associated information concerning the CDreproduced by the media drive 19. Then the client terminal CT proceedsto the next step SP34.

At this time, at step SP41, the associated information provision serverKS retrieves the associated information about the CD in response to theacquisition request from the client terminal CT by the CD titleinformation provision database 96 previously stored, and provides theretrieval result to the above client terminal CT.

The associated information retrieved by the CD title informationprovision database 96 includes not only the title and the artist namebut also the CD number and media identification information thatrepresents to be the above CD. Note that, there are various other mediaidentification information such as CD (Compact Disc), DVD (DigitalVersatile Disc), and Memory Stick (registered trademark).

At step SP34, the client terminal CT acquires the associated informationabout the CD from the associated information provision server KS, andperforms clipping in the hard disk drive 21. The client terminal CT thenproceeds to the next step SP35.

At step SP35, every time when a CD is selected on the select screen, theclient terminal CT acquires associated information about the CD from theassociated information provision server KS and performs clipping in thehard disk drive 21. Thus the clipping information database composed ofassociated information about plural CDs is created.

(1-2-3) Data Configuration of Clipping Information Database

As shown in FIG. 10, in a clipping information database 120, a table 121(true table) being the contents of the musical composition informationis stored. The table 121 includes columns such as clipping date,supplier of associated information, artist name, title, and mediaidentification information.

In the table 121 (true table), for example, the clipping date isregistered as the date. The supplier of the associated information isregistered as broadcasting station identification information thatspecifies a radio station and a CD title information provision database.The artist name is registered as artist 1, artist 2 . . . . The title isregistered as a tune title and album title. And the media identificationinformation is registered as a media name such as CD, DVD or MS (MemoryStick) (registered trademark).

Note that, when the field of media name is blank, it represents that themusical composition information is about a musical composition that hasnot been recorded in any media and is not released yet.

The table 121 (true table) stored in the clipping information database120 is displayed as a view table 121 on the display 17 by the CPU 11.

Here, the music composition information registered in the table 121 forexample “Mar. 8, 2006; TFM; artist 1; tune title 1; CD” represents thaton Aug. 6, 2003, the musical composition having the tune title 1 by theartist 1 was broadcast from the radio station RS (TFM), and the musicalcomposition is recorded in CD.

For example, the musical composition information “Mar. 8, 2005; CDDB;artist 2; tune title 2; DVD” represents that on Aug. 5, 2003, themusical composition information about the tune title 2 by the artist 2was retrieved by a CD DB (database) in the associated informationprovision server KS and provided, and the musical composition isrecorded in DVD.

Note that, the clipping information database 120 also can manage themusical composition information in a directory in the table 121.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11(A), musical composition informationabout musical composition A, musical composition information aboutmusical composition B, and musical composition information about musicalcomposition C includes “a program title” of the radio programrespectively. When there is the keyword of a common program title“program ab” in each musical composition information, the clippinginformation database can manage the musical composition informationabout the musical composition A, the musical composition informationabout the musical composition B, and the musical composition informationabout the musical composition C in a directory under the keyword“program ab”.

Similarly, the musical composition information about musical compositionD can be managed in a directory under the keyword of a program title“program cd”. Musical composition information about musical compositionE and musical composition information about musical composition F can bemanaged in a hierarchical directory under the keyword of a program title“program bc”.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11(B), musical composition information aboutmusical composition G, musical composition information about musicalcomposition H, and musical composition information about musicalcomposition I respectively includes the “album title” of the CD album.When there is the keyword of a common CD album “CD album 1” in eachmusical composition information, the musical composition informationabout the musical composition G, the musical composition informationabout the musical composition H, and the musical composition informationabout the musical composition I can be managed in a directory under thekeyword “CD album 1”.

Similarly, musical composition information about musical composition Jcan be managed in a directory under the keyword of a CD album “CD album2”. Musical composition information about musical composition K andmusical composition information about musical composition L can bemanaged in a directory under the keyword of a CD album “CD album 3”.

Therefore, the CPU 11 of the client terminal CT also can display themusical composition information in the clipping information database 120in state of directory on the display 17. Thus, the user can easily finddesired musical composition information from among numbers of musicalcomposition information.

Further, the clipping information database 120 can manage the musicalcomposition information under a common keyword in a directory. As shownin FIG. 12, in response to a command to delete an upper directory, suchas a “program ab” directory, the CPU 11 of the client terminal CT candelete the musical composition information about musical composition A,the musical composition information about musical composition B, and themusical composition information about musical composition C included inthe “program ab” at once.

(1-3) Retrieval Sequence Using Associated Information

A retrieval sequence will be described with reference to FIG. 13. Theclient terminal CT performs a retrieval sequence to a CD seller server31 using associated information, according to a specified communicationprogram.

At step SP51, the client terminal CT reads out specified musicalcomposition information as associated information from the clippinginformation database 120 stored in the hard disk drive 21, and proceedsto the next step SP52. For instance, the desired musical compositioninformation can be assumed to be user-specified musical compositioninformation selected by user operations to the client terminal CT.

At step SP52, the client terminal CT transmits a part of the associatedinformation read out from the clipping information database 120 as aretrieval key to the CD seller server 31 to make a search request. Theclient terminal CT then proceeds to the next step SP53.

The client terminal CT sends the retrieval key to the CD seller server31. The retrieval key corresponds to the part of the associatedinformation. For example, the information is about an artist name, aradio station name or CD DB 96 that is the supplier of the associatedinformation as broadcasting station identification information, and amedia name as media identification information.

At step SP61, the CD seller server 31 retrieves plural kinds of CDshaving some relationship with the retrieval key, based on the artistname, the supplier of the associated information, and the mediaidentification information sent from the client terminal CT. The CDseller server 31 transmits retrieval results to the client terminal CT,and then proceeds to the next step SP62.

Here, the CD seller server 31 retrieves all of the CDs released by theartist sold in the past, based on the artist name. When a radio stationname (a radio station RS) is included in the retrieval keys as thesupplier of the associated information, the CD seller server 31retrieves all of the CDs recording the music composition that wasbroadcast in programs by the above radio station RS on that day. The CDseller server 31 transmits the retrieval results based on both of theartist name and the radio station name to the client terminal CT.

Note that, when a radio station name (radio station RS) is included inthe retrieval key as the supplier of the associated information, the CDseller server 31 can recognize that the client terminal CT acquired theassociated information from the home page of the radio station.

Further, when a CD title information provision database is included inthe retrieval key as the supplier of the associated information, the CDseller server 31 can recognize that the client terminal CT acquired theassociated information from the CD title information provision database96.

At step SP53, the client terminal CT selects the CD number of a desiredCD from among the retrieval results from the CD seller server 31, andperforms a purchase procedure to the CD seller server 31 based on the CDnumber.

The retrieval results from the CD seller server 31 are various retrievalresults. The results include not only a retrieval result based on theartist name but also all of the CDs recording the music composition thatwas broadcast in the program on that day by the radio station RS. If theuser chooses from among the various retrieval results, the possibilitythat the user can find a desired CD becomes remarkably high.

Furthermore, the user of the client terminal CT can recognize alsowhether the recording media recording that musical composition is a CD,DVD or Memory Stick (registered trademark), or if the musicalcomposition has not been released, by the media identificationinformation in the retrieval result. Therefore, the user can easilydecide whether or not to perform the subsequent purchase procedure.

At step SP62, if the CD seller server 31 receives the CD number to whichthe purchase procedure was performed from the client terminal CT, the CDseller server 31 executes a selling procedure to deliver the CDcorresponding to the CD number to the user's house as well as a creditsettlement process by the account database 114. The CD seller server 31then proceeds to the next step SP63.

In the case where the supplier of the associated information wasrecognized to be “radio station RS” at step SP61, it can be determinedthat the CD could be sold because the user of the client terminal CTlistened to the musical composition broadcast in the program by theradio station RS.

At step SP63, the CD seller server 31 reports that sold result to theradio station RS.

Thereby, the radio station RS can tally up it as market information thatthe broadcast in the program led up to the sale of the CD of the musicalcomposition. Also it becomes possible to create a business model withthe CD seller server 31 such as receiving a few percent of profits bythe CD sales as a margin from the CD seller server 31.

In this manner, as a part of the associated information, the CD sellerserver 31 uses not only an artist name but also a radio station name andthe CD title information provision database 96 for representing thesupplier of the associated information, and a media name forrepresenting media identification information. They are transmitted tothe CD seller server 31 as retrieval keys. Thereby, the CD seller server31 can provide retrieval results of CDs having variety based on theartist name and the radio station name to the client terminal CT. Also,the broadcasting station identification information representing thesupplier of the associated information, and the media identificationinformation can be utilized for various uses.

(1-4) Operation and Effects

According to the above configuration, the client terminal CT of theinformation provision system 1 performs clipping of musical compositioninformation about a musical compositions broadcast in a program from anassociated information provision server KS via the homepage of a radiostation RS in the hard disk drive 21. Thus the client terminal CTcreates the clipping information database 120.

Furthermore, the client terminal CT performs clipping of associatedinformation about CDs retrieved by the CD DB 96 stored in a musicalcomposition information database 93 in the associated informationprovision server KS in the hard disk drive 21. Thus the client terminalCT creates the clipping information database 120.

Thereafter, the client terminal CT reads the associated information fromthe clipping information database 120, and transmits a part of theassociated information as retrieval keys to the CD seller server 31,such as artist name, the supplier of the associated information, andmedia identification information. The CD seller server 31 retrieves CDshaving some relationship to the retrieval keys. The client terminal CTcan acquire retrieval results from the CD seller server 31.

The retrieval results obtained at this time have variety. The retrievalresults include not only CDs directly having relationship to one of theretrieval keys the artist name but also CDs having some relationship tothe supplier (radio station name) of the associated information obtainedfrom the associated information provision server KS by performingclipping via the home page of the radio station RS.

Therefore, retrieval results by the present invention is broader thanthe retrieval result only under a retrieval key that has directrelationship to CDs such as artist name and title. There is remarkablyhigher possibility to find a CD desired by the user.

Furthermore, the supplier (radio station name) of the associatedinformation obtained by clipping from the associated informationprovision server KS via the home page of the radio station RS isincluded as a part of the retrieval keys. Therefore, based on theretrieval results, that the user of the client terminal CT purchased aCD by listening to the musical composition broadcast in a program by theradio station RS can be easily distinguished. The CD seller server 31also can effectively use the variety of the associated information tocreate a business model such as paying the radio station RS a margin.

According to the above configuration, a part of the associatedinformation obtained by clipping from the associated informationprovision server KS is used for retrieval keys. The associatedinformation includes not only artist name but also radio station namethat broadcast the musical composition in a program as the supplier ofthe associated information. The CD seller server 31 retrieves CDs underthe retrieval keys. The client terminal CT of the information provisionsystem 1 acquires the retrieval results of the CDs. Thus the clientterminal CT can provide retrieval results having variety that there hashigher possibility to find a desired CD to the user, not limitedretrieval result that the user can image in some degree.

Note that, in this embodiment, it has dealt with the case where when theclient terminal CT is receiving musical composition A presently beingbroadcast from the radio station RS, the client terminal CT requests tothe associated information provision server for acquiring musicalcomposition information including the artist name, the title, and thelike, as the associated information about the musical composition A.However, the present invention is not only limited to this but also theclient terminal CT may request to the associated information provisionserver for acquiring musical composition information including musicalcomposition identification information (contents identificationinformation) used to identify the musical composition A, as theassociated information about the musical composition A.

In this case, at the aforementioned step SP52, the client terminal CTtransmits the musical composition identification information in theassociated information as a retrieval key to the CD seller server 31.The CD seller server 31 searches for plural kinds of CDs having somerelationship to the retrieval key of the musical compositionidentification information from the client terminal CT, and transmitsretrieval results to the client terminal CT.

(2) Second Embodiment

A method for providing musical composition information by an associatedinformation provision server KS will be described in detail as a secondembodiment. First, a music related service provision system 1000 whichcorresponds to the information provision system 1 of the firstembodiment will be described. This music related service provisionsystem 1000 is composed of a portal server 1003 and various serviceservers 1004-1007, and is a system capable of single sign-on. Theassociated information provision server KS of the first embodimentcorresponds to a radio broadcast information delivery server 1006, forexample. The CD seller server 31 corresponds to a trade server 1005, forexample. And the client terminal CT corresponds to a client terminal1002.

(2-1) System Configuration

Referring to FIG. 14, the reference numeral 1000 denotes a music relatedservice provision system as a whole. The system 1000 comprises a clientterminal 1002 and a plurality of service servers. The client terminal1002 belongs to a user who makes a contract with a service provider ofthe music related service provision system 1000. The service serversinclude: a portal server 1003 to manage the client terminal 1002; andthe other servers 1004 through 1008 to provide the client terminal 1002with various services related to the music.

According to this embodiment, the music data delivery server 1004provides music data delivery services to deliver music data as contentdata to the client terminal 1002. The content data complies with suchformats as ATRAC3 (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding 3), AAC (AdvancedAudio Coding), WMA (Windows Media Audio), RealAUDIO G2 Music Codec, andMP3 (MPEG Audio Layer-3).

A trade server 1005 provides trade services to sell CD (Compact Disc),DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and the like to the user via the clientterminal 1002.

Further, the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 providesradio broadcast information delivery services to deliver radio broadcastinformation to the client terminal 1002. Specifically, the radiobroadcast information includes radio programs, music, and the likebroadcasted from a radio station.

The Internet radio server 1007 provides Internet radio broadcastservices to broadcast radio broadcast data to the client terminal 1002via the network NT1000 equivalent to the Internet. The radio broadcastdata is delivered in streaming format.

In addition, a charging server 1008 performs a charging process tocharge users for various fees in response to requests from the portalserver 1003 and the like.

(2-2) Configuration of Client Terminal 1002

(2-2-1) Functional Circuit Block Configuration of Client Terminal 1002

The following describes the hardware configuration of the clientterminal 1002 using functional circuit blocks. As shown in FIG. 15, theclient terminal 1002 has an operation input section 1020 comprisingvarious operation buttons provided on the surface of the client terminalcabinet or a remote controller (not shown). When a user operates theoperation input section 1020, it detects the user operation and sends aninput operation signal corresponding to the operation to an inputprocessing section 1021.

The input processing section 1021 is supplied with the input operationsignal from the operation input section 1020, converts the signal into aspecific operation command, and sends it to a control section 1023 via abus 1022.

The control section 1023 is supplied with operation commands and controlsignals from circuits connected to the bus 1022. Based on theseoperation commands and control signals, the control section 1023controls operations of these circuits.

A display control section 1024 is supplied with video data via the bus1022 and applies digital-analog conversion to the video data to generatean analog video signal. The display control section 1024 sends theresulting analog video signal to a display section 1025.

The display section 1025 represents a display device such as a liquidcrystal display and may be directly attached to the surface of the mainunit cabinet or may be externally connected.

The display section 1025 is supplied with processing results from thecontrol section 1023 and various video data as an analog video signalvia the display control section 1024. The display section 1025 displaysa video based on the analog video signal.

An audio control section 1026 applies digital-analog conversion to audiodata supplied via the bus 1022 and sends a resulting analog audio signalto a speaker 1027. The speaker 1027 outputs audio based on the analogaudio signal supplied from the audio control section 1026.

An external recording media recording and reproducing section 1028 readsand reproduces content data from external recording media such as CDsand Memory Stick (registered trademark), and records targeted contentdata on the external recording media. Memory Stick comprises flashmemory enclosed in a packaging case.

The external recording media recording and reproducing section 1028reads video data as content data from an external recording medium andsupplies the read video data to the display control section 1024 via thebus 1022.

The display control section 1024 is supplied with the video data read ascontent data from the external recording medium by the externalrecording media recording and reproducing section 1028. The displaycontrol section 1024 then converts the video data into an analog videosignal and sends it to the display section 1025.

The external recording media recording and reproducing section 1028reads audio data as content data from the external recording medium andsupplies the read audio data to the audio control section 1026 via thebus 1022.

When the external recording media recording and reproducing section 1028reads audio data as content data from the external recording medium, theaudio control section 1026 converts the audio data into an analog audiosignal and supplies it to the speaker 1027.

When the external recording media recording and reproducing section 1028reads the content data from the external recording medium, the controlsection 1023 sends that content data to a storage medium 1029 in theclient terminal 1002 via the bus 1022. The control section 1023 canstore the content data in the storage medium 1029. Storing content datain the storage medium 1029 is also referred to as ripping.

When reading video data such as image data as content data from thestorage medium 1029, the control section 1023 supplies the read videodata to the display control section 1024 via the bus 1022.

When reading audio data as content data from the storage medium 1029,the control section 1023 supplies the read audio data to the audiocontrol section 1026 via the bus 1022.

In addition, the control section 1023 can read music data from thestorage medium 1029 and transfers it to the external recording mediarecording and reproducing section which can then record the music dataon the external recording medium.

A broadcast signal reception section 1030 receives radio broadcastingwaves transmitted from radio stations and supplies them to the tunersection 1031.

As mentioned above, the broadcast signal reception section 1030 receivesradio broadcasting waves. Under the control of the control section 1023,the tuner section 1031 extracts such radio broadcasting signals from thereceived radio broadcasting waves as to have a broadcasting frequencycorresponding to the radio station specified from the operation inputsection 1020, for example. The tuner section then applies specifiedreception processing to the extracted signals. The tuner section 1031sends resulting audio data to the audio control section 1026 via the bus1022.

The audio control section 1026 converts the audio data supplied from thetuner section 1031 into an analog audio signal and sends this signal tothe speaker 1027. The speaker outputs the audio of the radio programbroadcast from the radio station. In this manner, the user can listen tothe radio program's audio.

The control section 1023 can record audio of radio programs. To do this,the control section 1023 sends audio data acquired by the tuner section1031 to the storage medium for storage.

Further, the control section 1023 can connect to a network NT1000 via acommunication control section 1032 and a network interface 1033 inorder. Consequently, the control section 1023 can access the portalserver 1003, and the other servers 1004 through 1007 on the networkNT1000. In this manner, the client terminal can interchange variousinformation and data with the portal server 1003, and the other servers1004 through 1007, and the like.

Compressed and encoded content data is received from the network NT1000via the network interface 1033 and the communication control section1032 in order. Alternatively, compressed and encoded content data isread from the storage medium 1029 and external recording media. Anencoder/decoder section 1034 decodes such content data and sends it tothe display control section 1024 or the audio control section 1026.

Further, the encoder/decoder section 1034 compresses and encodes neithercompressed nor encoded content data read from external recording mediaor audio data supplied from the tuner section 1031. The encoder/decodersection 1034 sends the compressed and encoded content data to thestorage medium 1029.

Under the control of the control section 1023, content data iscompressed and encoded in the encoder/decoder section 1034 and is storedin the storage medium 1029.

A copyright management section 1035 generates copyright managementinformation corresponding to content data that is downloaded from thenetwork NT1000 via the network interface 1033 and the communicationcontrol section 1032 in order or is read from external recording mediaby the external recording media recording and reproducing section 1028.

Under the control of the control section 1023, the copyright managementinformation generated in the copyright management section 1035 isassociated with the content data and is registered to the recordingmedium 1029.

The copyright management section 1035 is used to check out content dataassociated with the copyright management information from the storagemedium 1029 to a specific external recording medium and to check in thecontent data associated with the copyright management information fromthe specific external recording medium to the storage medium 1029. Thecopyright management section 1035 appropriately updates contents of thecopyright management information corresponding to the content data toprotect the copyright of the content data.

The client terminal receives XML (eXtensible Markup Language) or HTML(Hyper Text Markup Language) files from the network NT1000 via thenetwork interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 inorder. A page information generation section 1036 interprets pageinformation of these files and generates video data to be displayed onthe display section 1025. The page information generation section 1036then sends the generated video data to the display control section 1024.

An authentication processing section 1037 performs authenticationprocesses such as sending authentication information to the portalserver 1003 and the other servers 1004 through 1007 on the networkNT1000 connected via the network interface 1033, via the communicationcontrol section 1032 and the network interface 1033 in order.

An authentication information storage section 1038 stores authenticationinformation needed for the authentication processing section 1037 toaccess the portal server 1003, the other servers 1004 through 1007, andthe like.

A radio broadcasting display control section 1039 sends a request signalto the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 via thecommunication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 inorder. This request signal is used to request information about theradio broadcast currently received by the user for listening. The radiobroadcast information delivery server 1006 corresponds to the radiostation that carries the radio broadcast being received.

As a result, the radio broadcasting display control section 1039receives the radio broadcast information received from the radiobroadcast information delivery server 1006 on the network NT1000 via thenetwork interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 inorder. In addition, the radio broadcasting display control section 1039sends the received radio broadcast information to the display controlsection 1024. This allows the display section 1025 to display the radiobroadcast information (equivalent to the associated information in thefirst embodiment) comprising a name of the currently received radioprogram, a title and an artist name of the currently received musicalcomposition, and the like.

(2-3) Functional Circuit Block Configuration of Portal Server 1003

With reference to FIG. 16, the following describes the hardwareconfiguration of the portal server 1003 as authentication server usingfunctional circuit blocks. A control section 1050 in the portal server1003 controls operations of circuits connected via a bus 1051.

Under the control of the control section 1050, a communication controlsection 1052 interchanges various information with the client terminal1002, the other servers 1004 through 1007, and the like via a networkinterface 1053.

A customer database section 1054 registers customer informationcomprising user ID (identification) information and associated passwordinformation of a user who has completed a contract with a serviceprovider of a music related service provision system.

A page information storage section 1055 stores page information and thelike managed by the music related service provision system's serviceprovider.

The page information is written in languages such as XML and includesURL (Uniform Resource Locator) information to access a music datadelivery server 1004, a trade server 1005, a video broadcast informationdelivery server 1006, an Internet radio server 1007 and the like.

An authentication processing section 1056 receives the user IDinformation and the password information sent from the client terminal1002 via the network interface 1053 and the communication controlsection 1052 in order. The authentication processing section 1056 thenperforms a user authentication process to confirm whether or not thecustomer database section 1054 stores the received user ID informationand password information as the customer information.

Upon completion of the user authentication process, the authenticationprocessing section 1056 issues portal authentication result information(authentication session ID information to be described later) indicatingthe result of the user authentication process. The authenticationprocessing section 1056 temporarily stores the issued portalauthentication result information in the authentication informationstorage section 1057.

Let us assume that the user is authenticated to be a registered user asa result of the user authentication process by the authenticationprocessing section 1056. In this case, the control section 1050 sendspage information about a contractor page stored in the page informationstorage section 1055 as well as the portal authentication resultinformation to the client terminal 1002 via the communication controlsection 1052 and the network interface 1053 in order.

Next, let us assume that the user is not authenticated to be aregistered user as a result of the user authentication process by theauthentication processing section 1056. In this case, the controlsection 1050 may be configured to send authentication error informationas well as unsuccessful authentication notification page informationindicating the unsuccessful authentication to the client terminal 1002via the communication control section 1052 and the network interface1053 in order. The unsuccessful authentication notification pageinformation is stored in the page information storage section 1055.

As a result of performing authentication processes for the user from themusic data delivery server 1004, the trade server 1005, the radiobroadcast information delivery server 1006 and the like, theauthentication processing section 1056 receives portal authenticationresult information (authentication ticket to be described later) via thenetwork interface 1053 and the communication control section 1052 inorder. The portal authentication result information is acquired and sentfrom the user's client terminal 1002. Then, the authenticationprocessing section 1056 compares the received portal authenticationresult information with the portal authentication result informationthat is temporarily stored in the authentication information storagesection 1057 corresponding to the user.

The authentication processing section 1056 performs a confirmationprocess as an authentication process for the portal authenticationresult information received from the music data delivery server 1004,the trade server 1005, the radio broadcast information delivery server1006 and the like. Specifically, the authentication processing section1056 confirms whether or not the portal authentication resultinformation is authenticated. The authentication processing section 1056then returns confirmation result information indicating a confirmationresult to the music data delivery server 1004, the trade server 1005,the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 and the like viathe communication control section 1052 and the network interface 1053 inorder.

A frequency information storage section 1058 stores the followingassociated with each other: an area code such as a postal guide numbercapable of specifying an area; frequency information indicatingbroadcast frequencies for radio broadcasts receivable in the areaindicated by the area code; a name of a radio station (hereafterreferred to as a radio station name) to broadcast the radio broadcast;and a call sign as identification information unique to each radiostation.

A URL storage section 1059 stores the following associated with eachother: a call sign for radio broadcast corresponding to each radiostation; and URL information capable of acquiring radio broadcastinformation (hereafter referred to specifically as now-on-airinformation). This information concerns a currently broadcast radioprogram provided by the radio station corresponding to the call sign andcomprises a name of the radio program, a title of the musicalcomposition currently broadcast in the radio program, and the like.

(2-4) Functional Circuit Block Configuration of Music Data DeliveryServer 1004

Referring now to FIG. 17, the following describes the hardwareconfiguration of the music data delivery server 1004 using functionalcircuit blocks. A control section 1070 in the music data delivery server1004 controls operations of circuits connected via a bus 1071.

Under control of the control section 1070, a communication controlsection 1072 interchanges various information and data such as contentdata with the client terminal 1002, the portal server 1003, and the likevia a network interface 1073.

A customer database section 1074 stores customer information comprisinga corresponding combination of user ID information and passwordinformation about users who have completed contracts with a serviceprovider of the music data delivery server 1004. An authenticationprocessing section 1075 may have a function to authenticate users basedon portal authentication result information that is issued by the portalserver 1003 and is transmitted from the client terminal 1002. In suchcase, the customer database section 1074 may be omitted.

A page information storage section 1076 stores information such as pageinformation about music data delivery pages for presenting downloadablemusic data. The music data delivery server 1004 manages thisinformation.

The page information about music data delivery pages is written inlanguages such as XML. This enables a user of the client terminal 1002to select intended music data to be downloaded.

The control section 1070 receives a page information acquisition requestsignal transmitted from the client terminal 1002 via the networkinterface 1073 and the communication control section 1072 in order. Thepage information acquisition request signal requests page informationabout music data delivery pages. According to the received pageinformation acquisition request signal, the control section 1070transmits the page information about music data delivery pages to theclient terminal 1002 via the communication control section 1072 and thenetwork interface 1073 in order. The page information about music datadelivery pages is stored in the page information storage section 1076.

The authentication processing section 1075 receives the user IDinformation and the password information about the user of the clientterminal 1002 from it via the network interface 1073 and thecommunication control section 1072 in order. The authenticationprocessing section 1075 then performs a user authentication process toconfirm whether or not the customer database section 1074 stores thereceived user ID information and password information as the customerinformation.

Further, the authentication processing section 1075 uses a userauthentication technique that differs from the user authenticationprocess using the user ID information and the password information. Thatis to say, the authentication processing section 1075 receives portalauthentication result information (authentication ticket to be describedlater) that is issued by the portal server 1003 and is transmitted fromthe client terminal 1002 via the network interface 1073 and thecommunication control section 1072 in order. The authenticationprocessing section 1075 then transmits the received portalauthentication result information to the portal server 1003 via thecommunication control section 1072 and the network interface 1073 inorder.

In response to the portal authentication result information transmittedto the portal server 1003, the authentication processing section 1075receives confirmation result information via the network interface 1073and the communication control section 1072 in order. The confirmationresult information is returned from the portal server 1003 as a resultof applying the authentication process (i.e., the above-mentionedconfirmation process) to the portal authentication result information.Based on the received confirmation result information, theauthentication processing section 1075 confirms whether or not the useris a registered user who completed a contract with the service providerof the music related service provision system 1000.

Upon completion of the user authentication process, the authenticationprocessing section 1075 issues the server authentication resultinformation (service session ID information to be described later)indicating the result of the user authentication process.

Let us assume that the user is authenticated to be a registered user asa result of the user authentication process by the authenticationprocessing section 1075. In this case, the control section 1070transmits page information as well as the server authentication resultinformation to the client terminal 1002 via the communication controlsection 1072 and the network interface 1073 in order. The pageinformation is related to a music data delivery page that is reservedfor contractors and is stored in the page information storage section1076.

By contrast, let us assume that the user is not authenticated to be aregistered user as a result of the user authentication process by theauthentication processing section 1075. In this case, the controlsection 1070 transmits authentication error information as well asunsuccessful authentication notification page information to the clientterminal 1002 via the communication control section 1072 and the networkinterface 1073 in order. The unsuccessful authentication notificationpage information is stored in the page information storage section 1076and indicates unsuccessful authentication.

The authentication information storage section 1077 temporarily storesserver authentication result information issued by the authenticationprocessing section 1075. The authentication information storage section1077 also stores various types of authentication information needed forthe authentication processing section 1075 to authenticate users who usethe client terminal 1002.

A music data storage section 1078 stores a plurality of music datacompressed and encoded in the above-mentioned formats such as ATRAC3 andMP3. The music data are associated with retrieval keys such as contentID information.

As mentioned above, the control section 1070 transmits the pageinformation about the music data delivery page to the client terminal1002. As a result, the client terminal 1002 transmits a download requestsignal that stores a retrieval key for retrieving music data intendedfor download and requests the download of intended music data. The musicdata delivery server 1004 receives the download request signal via thenetwork interface 1073 and the communication control section 1072 inorder. In this case, the retrieval section 1079 retrieves thecorresponding retrieval key from the received download request signal.

Based on the retrieval key, the retrieval section 1079 searches aplurality of pieces of music data in the music data storage section 1078for music data intended for download, i.e., one matching a retrievalcondition indicated by the retrieval key.

The control section 1070 then transmits the retrieved music dataintended for download to the client terminal 1002 via the communicationcontrol section 1072 and the network interface 1073 in order.

At this time, the control section 1070 transmits charging information tothe charging server 1008 via the communication control section 1072 andthe network interface 1073 in order. The charging information is used tocharge the user who downloaded the music data to the client terminal1002. In this manner, the control section 1070 allows the chargingserver 1008 to perform a charging process corresponding to the musicdata downloaded by the user.

(2-5) Functional Circuit Block Configuration of Trade Server 1005

Referring now to FIG. 18, the following describes the hardwareconfiguration of the trade server 1005 using functional circuit blocks.A control section 1090 in the trade server 1005 controls operations ofcircuits connected via a bus 1091.

Under control of the control section 1090, a communication controlsection 1092 interchanges various information with the client terminal1002, the portal server 1003, and the like via a network interface 1093.

A customer database section 1094 stores customer information comprisinga corresponding combination of user ID information and passwordinformation about users who have completed contracts with a serviceprovider of the trade server 1005. An authentication processing section1095 may have a function to authenticate users based on portalauthentication result information that is issued by the portal server1003 and is transmitted from the client terminal 1002. In such case, thecustomer database section 1094 may be omitted.

A page information storage section 1096 stores information such as pageinformation about package media sales pages for presenting package mediasuch as CD and DVD for sale. The trade server 1005 manages thisinformation.

The page information about package media sales pages is written inlanguages such as XML. This enables a user of the client terminal 1002to select intended package media such as CD and DVD to be purchased.

The control section 1090 receives a page information acquisition requestsignal transmitted from the client terminal 1002 via the networkinterface 1093 and the communication control section 1092 in order. Thepage information acquisition request signal requests page informationabout package media sales pages. According to the received pageinformation acquisition request signal, the control section 1090transmits the page information about package media sales pages to theclient terminal 1002 via the communication control section 1092 and thenetwork interface 1093 in order. The page information about packagemedia sales pages is stored in the page information storage section1096.

The authentication processing section 1095 receives the user IDinformation and the password information about the user of the clientterminal 1002 from it via the network interface 1093 and thecommunication control section 1092 in order. The authenticationprocessing section 1095 then performs a user authentication process toconfirm whether or not the customer database section 1094 stores thereceived user ID information and password information as the customerinformation.

Further, the authentication processing section 1095 uses a userauthentication technique that differs from the user authenticationprocess using the user ID information and the password information. Thatis to say, the authentication processing section 1095 receives portalauthentication result information (authentication ticket to be describedlater) that is issued by the portal server 1003 and is transmitted fromthe client terminal 1002 via the network interface 1093 and thecommunication control section 1092 in order. The authenticationprocessing section 1095 then transmits the received portalauthentication result information to the portal server 1003 via thecommunication control section 1092 and the network interface 1093 inorder.

In response to the portal authentication result information transmittedto the portal server 1003, the authentication processing section 1095receives confirmation result information via the network interface 1093and the communication control section 1092 in order. The confirmationresult information is returned from the portal server 1003 as a resultof applying the authentication process (i.e., the above-mentionedconfirmation process) to the portal authentication result information.Based on the received confirmation result information, theauthentication processing section 1095 confirms whether or not the useris a registered user who completed a contract with the service providerof the music related service provision system 1000.

Upon completion of the user authentication process, the authenticationprocessing section 1095 issues the server authentication resultinformation (service session ID information to be described later)indicating the result of the user authentication process.

Let us assume that the user is authenticated to be a registered user asa result of the user authentication process by the authenticationprocessing section 1095. In this case, the control section 1090transmits page information as well as the server authentication resultinformation to the client terminal 1002 via the communication controlsection 1092 and the network interface 1093 in order. The pageinformation is related to a package media sales page that is reservedfor contractors and is stored in the page information storage section1096.

By contrast, let us assume that the user is not authenticated to be aregistered user as a result of the user authentication process by theauthentication processing section 1095. In this case, the controlsection 1090 transmits authentication error information as well asunsuccessful authentication notification page information to the clientterminal 1002 via the communication control section 1092 and the networkinterface 1093 in order. The unsuccessful authentication notificationpage information is stored in the page information storage section 1096and indicates unsuccessful authentication.

The authentication information storage section 1097 temporarily storesserver authentication result information issued by the authenticationprocessing section 1095. The authentication information storage section1097 also stores various types of authentication information needed forthe authentication processing section 1095 to authenticate users who usethe client terminal 1002.

A package media information storage section 1098 stores information(hereafter referred to as package media information) about a pluralityof package media such as CD and DVD for sale. The package mediainformation is associated with retrieval keys such as package media IDinformation.

As mentioned above, the control section 1090 transmits the pageinformation about the package media sales page to the client terminal1002. As a result, the client terminal 1002 transmits a mediainformation request signal that requests package media information abouta specific package medium such as CD and DVD. The media informationrequest signal is received via the network interface 1093 and thecommunication control section 1092 in order. In this case, the retrievalsection 1099 retrieves the corresponding retrieval key for retrievingthe specific package medium from the received media information requestsignal.

Based on the retrieval key, the retrieval section 1099 searches aplurality of pieces of package media information in the package mediainformation storage section 1098 for the package media information aboutthe specific package medium, i.e., the information matching a retrievalcondition indicated by the retrieval key.

The control section 1090 then transmits the retrieved package mediainformation to the client terminal 1002 via the communication controlsection 1092 and the network interface 1093 in order. In this manner,the user is provided with the package media information about thespecific package media.

As a result, the client terminal 1002 transmits a purchase requestsignal to request the purchase of the above-mentioned specific packagemedium. The control section 1090 receives the purchase request signalvia the network interface 1093 and the communication control section1092 in order. The control section 1090 then performs purchase processessuch as shipping the specific package medium to the user of the clientterminal 1002.

The control section 1090 transmits charging information to the chargingserver 1008 via the communication control section 1092 and the networkinterface 1093 in order. The charging information is used to charge theuser who purchased the specific package medium. In this manner, thecontrol section 1090 allows the charging server 1008 to perform acharging process corresponding to the user's purchase of the specificpackage medium.

When the charging server 1008 completes the charging process for theuser, the control section 1090 transmits purchase completion informationto the client terminal 1002 via the communication control section 1092and the network interface 1093 in order. The purchase completioninformation indicates that the purchase of package media is complete.

(2-6) Functional Circuit Block Configuration of Radio BroadcastInformation Delivery Server 1006

With reference to FIG. 19, the following describes the hardwareconfiguration of the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006,using functional circuit blocks. A control section 1110 in the radiobroadcast information delivery server 1006 controls operations ofcircuits connected via a bus 1111.

Under the control of the control section 1110, a communication controlsection 1112 interchanges various information with the client terminal1002, the portal server 1003, and the like via a network interface 1113.

A customer database section 1114 registers customer informationcomprising user ID information and associated password information of auser who has completed a contract with a service provider of the radiobroadcast information delivery server 1006. The authenticationprocessing section 1115 may have a function to authenticate users basedon the portal authentication result information that is sent from theclient terminal 1002 and is issued by the portal server 1003. In suchcase, the customer database section 1114 may not be provided.

There is provided radio broadcast information called on-air-listinformation. This information is managed by the radio broadcastinformation delivery server 1006 and concerns the radio program alreadybroadcast by the radio station corresponding to the radio broadcastinformation delivery server 1006. A page information storage section1116 stores, for example, page information about an on-air-listinformation delivery page used to acquire the on-air-list information.

Page information about the on-air-list information delivery page iswritten in a language such as XML. There is provided an input box or thelike that allows a user of the client terminal 1002 to enter retrievalkeys for intended on-air-list information. For example, retrieval keysinclude broadcast date information, names, and the like of radioprograms.

An on-air-list information storage section 1117 stores the on-air-listinformation generated in a list format. The on-air-list informationincludes: the name of the radio program already broadcasted from theradio station corresponding to the radio broadcast information deliveryserver 1006; program broadcast start time, program broadcast end time,and the like; and title and artist name of a musical compositionbroadcasted in the radio program, musical composition broadcast starttime, and the like.

The control section 1110 receives a page information acquisition requestsignal to request the page information about the on-air-list informationdelivery page from the client terminal 1002 via the network interface1113 and the communication control section 1112 in order. Correspondingto the received page information acquisition request signal, the controlsection 1110 sends the page information about the on-air-listinformation delivery page stored in the page information storage section1116 to the client terminal 1002 via the communication control section1112 and the network interface 1113 in order.

After the retrieval key is entered for the page information about theon-air-list information delivery page from the client terminal 1002, theretrieval section 1118 stores the retrieval key to retrieve the intendedon-air-list information. When an on-air-list information request signalis transmitted to request download of the on-air-list information, theretrieval section 1118 receives the on-air-list information requestsignal via the network interface 1113 and the communication controlsection 1112 in order. The retrieval section 1118 then extracts theretrieval key from the received on-air-list information request signal.

Based on the retrieval key, the retrieval section 1118 searches theentire on-air-list information in the on-air-list information storagesection 1117 for the targeted on-air-list information within a specifiedrange corresponding to the retrieval condition indicated by theretrieval key.

As a result, the control section 1110 sends the retrieved targetedon-air-list information to the client terminal 1002 via thecommunication control section 1112 and the network interface 1113 inorder.

A now-on-air information storage section 1119 stores radio broadcastinformation called now-on-air information.

This information comprises: program name, program broadcast start time,and program broadcast end time of a radio program currently broadcastedfrom the radio station corresponding to the radio broadcast informationdelivery server 1006; and title, artist name, musical compositionbroadcast start time, and the like of a musical composition currentlybroadcasted in the radio program.

The client terminal 1002 sends not only a now-on-air information requestsignal to request to acquire the now-on-air information, but also userID information and password information of the user who uses the clientterminal 1002. The authentication processing section 1115 receives thesepieces of information via the network interface 1113 and thecommunication control section 1112 in order. The authenticationprocessing section 1115 then performs the user authentication process toconfirm whether or not the received user ID information and passwordinformation are registered as the customer information in the customerdatabase section 1114.

Further, the authentication processing section 1115 uses a userauthentication technique different from the user authentication processthat uses the user ID information and the password information. That isto say, the client terminal 1002 sends the portal authentication resultinformation (authentication ticket to be described later) that is issuedfrom the portal server 1003. The authentication processing section 1115receives this information via the network interface 1113 and thecommunication control section 1112 in order. The authenticationprocessing section 1115 then sends the received portal authenticationresult information to the portal server 1003 via the communicationcontrol section 1112 and the network interface 1113 in order.

After the authentication processing section 1115 sends the portalauthentication result information to the portal server 1003, the portalserver 1003 returns confirmation result information as a result ofperforming the authentication process (i.e., the above-mentionedconfirmation process) corresponding to the portal authentication resultinformation. The authentication processing section 1115 receives theconfirmation result information via the network interface 1113 and thecommunication control section 1112 in order. Based on the receivedconfirmation result information, the authentication processing section1115 determines whether or not the user is a registered user who hascompleted a contract with the service provider of a music relatedservice provision system 1000.

After terminating the user authentication process, the authenticationprocessing section 1115 issues server authentication result information(service session ID information to be described later) indicating theresult of the user authentication process.

Let us assume that the user is authenticated to be a registered user asa result of the user authentication process performed by theauthentication processing section 1115. In this case, the controlsection 1110 sends the now-on-air information stored in the now-on-airinformation storage section 1119 as well as the server authenticationresult information to the client terminal 1002 via the communicationcontrol section 1112 and the network interface 1113 in order.

By contrast, let us assume that the user is not authenticated to be aregistered user as a result of the user authentication process performedby the authentication processing section 1115. In this case, the controlsection 1110 sends authentication error information as well asunsuccessful authentication notification page information to the clientterminal 1002 via the communication control section 1112 and the networkinterface 1113 in order. The unsuccessful authentication notificationpage information is stored in the page information storage section 1116and indicates unsuccessful authentication.

In this manner, the control section 1110 functions in response to arequest to acquire the now-on-air information from the user as follows.When the user is authenticated to be a registered user, the controlsection 1110 provides the now-on-air information. When the user is notauthenticated to be a registered user, however, the control section 1110prevents the user from receiving radio broadcast information deliveryservices provided by the radio broadcast information delivery server1006 such as the now-on-air information delivery service.

The authentication information storage section 1120 temporarily storesthe server authentication result information issued from theauthentication processing section 1115. The authentication informationstorage section 1120 also stores various authentication informationneeded when the authentication processing section 1115 authenticates auser of the client terminal 1002.

(2-7) Process Overview of Each Server

With reference to sequence charts in FIGS. 20 through 25, the followingoutlines processes performed between the client terminal 1002 and theportal server 1003 and processes performed between the client terminal1002 and each of the music data delivery server 1004, the trade server1005, and the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006.

(2-7-1) User Authentication Process between Client Terminal 1002 andPortal Server 1003

With reference to FIG. 20, the following describes a user authenticationprocess performed between the client terminal 1002 and the portal server1003.

The control section 1023 corresponds to the client terminal 1002 for theuser who contracts with the service provider of the music relatedservice provision system 1000. For example, the user performs anoperation to turn on the client terminal 1002. Alternatively, the userpresses a specific operation button on the operation input section 1020.In response to such operation, the operation input section 1020recognizes an operation input signal. The input processing section 1021converts this signal into an operation command. The control section 1023is supplied with this command and starts an authentication requestprocess.

After starting the authentication request process, the control section1023, at step SP1000, generates a connection request signal containingthe authentication session ID information and the like temporarilystored in the authentication information storage section 1038. Thecontrol section 1023 sends the generated connection request signal tothe portal server 1003 via the communication control section 1032 andthe network interface 1033 in order.

The client terminal 1002 establishes a communication connection with theportal server 1003 to perform various processes such as the userauthentication process. Each time this communication connection isestablished, the portal server 1003 issues the authentication session IDinformation as identification information to identify respectivecommunication connection states (i.e., sessions).

For the use with the user authentication process and the like, theauthentication session ID information is assigned with a specified validperiod (e.g., approximately one minute) with reference to the time ofissuance from the portal server 1003.

The client terminal 1002 acquires the authentication session IDinformation from the portal server 1003. There may be a case where theclient terminal 1002 cannot supply the authentication session IDinformation to the portal server 1003 within the valid period. In suchcase, the portal server 1003 determines cancellation of thecommunication connection state specified by the authentication sessionID information.

In this manner, the portal server 1003 prevents the previously issuedauthentication session ID information from being falsely used by a usernot contracted with the service provider of the music related serviceprovision system 1.

The authentication information storage section 1038 temporarily storesthe authentication session ID information. This authentication sessionID information was issued by the portal server 1003 that establishedcommunication connection with the client terminal 1002 to perform theuser authentication process and the like.

The client terminal 1002 sends a connection request signal. In responseto this, at step SP1001, the control section 1050 of the portal server1003 receives the connection request signal via the network interface1053 and the communication control section 1052 in order. The receivedconnection request signal contains the authentication session IDinformation and the like. The control section 1050 sends theauthentication session ID information and the like to the authenticationprocessing section 1056.

Under the control of the control section 1050, the authenticationprocessing section 1056 performs the user authentication process basedon the authentication session ID information and the like received asthe connection request signal from the client terminal 1002.

As a result, the authentication processing section 1056 may not be ableto authenticate the user of the client terminal 1002 to be a registereduser due to expiration of the valid period specified in theauthentication session ID information and the like received from theclient terminal 1002. In such case, the control section 1050 sends theauthentication error information indicating an authentication error tothe client terminal 1002 via the communication control section 1052 andthe network interface 1053 in order.

At step SP1002, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the authentication error information sent from the portalserver 1003 via the network interface 1033 and the communication controlsection 1032 in order. In response to this, the control section 1023reads the user ID information, the password information, and the likestored in the authentication information storage section 1038. Thecontrol section 1023 sends the read user ID information, passwordinformation, and the like to the portal server 1003 via thecommunication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 inorder.

At step SP1003, the control section 1050 of the portal server 1003receives the user ID information, the password information, and the likesent from the client terminal 1002 via the network interface 1053 andthe communication control section 1052 in order. The control section1050 sends these pieces of information to the authentication processingsection 1056.

Under the control of the control section 1050, the authenticationprocessing section 1056 performs the user authentication process.Specifically, the authentication processing section 1056 checks if thereceived user ID information, password information, and the like areincluded in the customer information registered to the customer databasesection 1054.

As a result, the authentication processing section 1056 may authenticatethe user of the client terminal 1002 to be a registered user. In thiscase, under the control of the control section 1050, the authenticationprocessing section 1056 issues the portal authentication resultinformation, i.e., the authentication session ID information and thelike about communication connection state between the client terminal1002 and the portal server 1003 at this time. In addition, theauthentication processing section 1056 temporarily stores theauthentication session ID information and the like in the authenticationinformation storage section 1057.

After the authentication processing section 1056 issued theauthentication session ID information and the like to the clientterminal 1002, the control section 1050 sends these pieces ofinformation to the client terminal 1002 via the communication controlsection 1052 and the network interface 1053 in order.

At step SP1004, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the authentication session ID information and the like sentfrom the portal server 1003 via the network interface 1033 and thecommunication control section 1032 in order. The control section 1023then sends the received authentication session ID information and thelike to the authentication processing section 1037.

Under the control of the control section 1023, the authenticationprocessing section 1037 temporarily stores the received authenticationsession ID information and the like in the authentication informationstorage section 1038.

The control section 1023 receives the page information acquisitionrequest signal from the portal server 1003 to request the portal server1003 for the page information. The control section 1023 sends thereceived signal together with the authentication session ID informationand the like temporarily stored in the authentication informationstorage section 1038 to the portal server 1003 via the communicationcontrol section 1032 and the network interface 1033 in order.

At step SP1005, the control section 1050 of the portal server 1003receives the page information acquisition request signal, theauthentication session ID information, and the like sent from the clientterminal 1002 via the network interface 1053 and the communicationcontrol section 1052 in order. The control section 1050 sends thereceived authentication session ID information and the like to theauthentication processing section 1056.

Under the control of the control section 1050, the authenticationprocessing section 1056 performs the user authentication process.Specifically, the authentication processing section 1056 compares thereceived authentication session ID information and the like with theauthentication session ID information and the like that were issued tothe client terminal 1002 at the above-mentioned step SP1003 and weretemporarily stored in the authentication information storage section1057.

As a result, at step SP1006, the authentication processing section 1056authenticates the user of the client terminal 1002 to be a registereduser. The authentication processing section 1056 determines that theterminal 1002 issued the valid acquisition request for the pageinformation. The authentication processing section 1056 extends thevalid period for the authentication session ID information and the likeissued to the client terminal 1002.

At this time, the control section 1050 reads the user-requested pageinformation from the page information storage section 1055. The controlsection 1050 sends the read page information, the authentication sessionID information, and the like to the client terminal 1002 via thecommunication control section 1052 and the network interface 1053 inorder. At this time, the authentication session ID information and thelike are assigned with the valid period extended by the authenticationprocessing section 1056.

At step SP1007, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the page information sent from the portal server 1003 and theauthentication session ID information with the extended valid period andthe like via the network interface 1033 and the communication controlsection 1032 in order. The control section 1023 sends the received pageinformation to the page information generation section 1036 and sendsthe authentication session ID information with the extended valid periodand the like to the authentication processing section 1037.

Based on the page information supplied from the control section 1023,the page information generation section 1036 generates video dataembedded with links to the music data delivery server 1004, the tradeserver 1005, and the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006.The page information generation section 1036 sends the generated videodata to the display control section 1024.

The display control section 1024 applies a digital-analog conversionprocess to the video data supplied from the page information generationsection 1036. The display control section 1024 then sends the convertedanalog video signal to the display section 1025. As a result, thedisplay section 1025 displays the page of the portal server 1003 as avideo based on the analog video signal.

The authentication processing section 1037 updates the authenticationsession ID information and the like temporarily stored at theabove-mentioned step SP1004 to the authentication session ID informationwith the extended valid period and the like as follows. Under thecontrol of the control section 1023, the authentication processingsection 1037 temporarily stores the authentication session IDinformation with the extended valid period and the like received fromthe portal server 1003 in the authentication information storage section1038 so as to overwrite the authentication session ID information havingthe valid period not extended and the like.

(2-7-2) User Authentication Process between Client Terminal 1002 andeach of servers 1004 through 1006

With reference to FIG. 21, the following describes the userauthentication process performed between the client terminal 1002 andeach of the music data delivery server 1004, the trade server 1005, andthe radio broadcast information delivery server 1006.

As an example of the user authentication process, the client terminal1002 once acquires the page information from the portal server 1003 asmentioned above with reference to FIG. 20. The page information containslinks for access to the music data delivery server 1004, the tradeserver 1005, and the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 toperform the user authentication process. This user authenticationprocess is hereinafter referred to as an indirect access authenticationprocess.

As another example of the user authentication process, the clientterminal 1002 does not acquire the page information from the portalserver 1003. Instead, previously “bookmarked” URL information and thelike are used for direct access to the music data delivery server 1004,the trade server 1005, and the radio broadcast information deliveryserver 1006. This user authentication process is hereafter referred toas a direct access authentication process.

The indirect access authentication process can be performed just thesame in any combinations of the client terminal 1002 and the music datadelivery server 1004, the trade server 1005, and the radio broadcastinformation delivery server 1006.

The direct access authentication process can be also performed just thesame in any combinations of the client terminal 1002 and the music datadelivery server 1004, the trade server 1005, and the radio broadcastinformation delivery server 1006.

The indirect access authentication process differs from the directaccess authentication process only as to a manner of acquiring URLinformation used by the client terminal 1002 for access to the musicdata delivery server 1004, the trade server 1005, and the radiobroadcast information delivery server 1006. After the URL information isacquired, the indirect access authentication process and the directaccess authentication process can be performed just the same.

In the following description, the music data delivery server 1004represents an access destination of the client terminal 1002 forsimplicity. Further, the indirect access authentication process and thedirect access authentication process are described as one userauthentication process.

At step SP1010, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002follows the URL information embedded as links in the page information orthe URL information and the like already registered as bookmarks. Thecontrol section 1023 transmits the service session ID information andthe like read from the authentication information storage section 1038as well as a page information acquisition request signal to the musicdata delivery server 1004 via the communication control section 1032 andthe network interface 1033 in order. The page information acquisitionrequest signal requests to acquire the page information about music datadelivery pages. The page information concerns package media sales pagesand on-air-list information delivery pages for the trade server 1005 andthe radio broadcast information delivery server 1006.

The client terminal 1002 establishes a communication connection with themusic data delivery server 1004, the trade server 1005, and the radiobroadcast information delivery server 1006 to perform various processessuch as the user authentication process. Each time this communicationconnection is established, the music data delivery server 1004, thetrade server 1005, and the radio broadcast information delivery server1006 accessed by the client terminal 1002 issue the service session IDinformation as identification information to identify respectivecommunication connection states (i.e., sessions).

For the use with the user authentication process and the like, theservice session ID information, like the authentication session IDinformation, is assigned with a specified valid period (e.g.,approximately one minute) with reference to the time of issuance fromthe music data delivery server 1004, the trade server 1005, and theradio broadcast information delivery server 1006.

The client terminal 1002 acquires the service session ID informationfrom the servers 1004 through 1006. There may be a case where the clientterminal 1002 cannot supply the service session ID information to theinformation-issuing servers such as the music data delivery server 1004,the trade server 1005, and the radio broadcast information deliveryserver 1006 within the valid period. In such case, theinformation-issuing servers such as the music data delivery server 1004,the trade server 1005, and the radio broadcast information deliveryserver 1006 determine cancellation of the communication connection statespecified by the service session ID information.

In this manner, the music data delivery server 1004, the trade server1005, and the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 preventthe previously issued service session ID information from being falselyused by a user not contracted with the service provider of the musicrelated service provision system 1.

The authentication information storage section 1038 temporarily storesthe service session ID information. This service session ID informationwas issued by the music data delivery server 1004, the trade server1005, and the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 thatestablished communication connection with the client terminal 1002 toperform the user authentication process and the like.

At step SP1011, the control section 1070 of the music data deliveryserver 1004 receives the page information acquisition request signal,the service session ID information, and the like transmitted from theclient terminal 1002 via the network interface 1073 and thecommunication control section 1072 in order. The control section 1070transmits the received service session ID information and the like tothe authentication processing section 1075.

Under the control of the control section 1070, the authenticationprocessing section 1075 performs the user authentication process.Specifically, the authentication processing section 1075 compares thereceived service session ID information and the like with the servicesession ID information and the like temporarily stored in theauthentication information storage section 1077.

As a result, the authentication processing section 1075 may not be ableto authenticate the user of the client terminal 1002 to be a registereduser, e.g., due to expiration of the valid period for the servicesession ID information received from the client terminal 1002. In suchcase, the authentication processing section 1075 determines that theclient terminal 1002 issued an invalid acquisition request for the pageinformation about the music data delivery page.

In this case, the control section 1070 transmits authentication errorinformation and a shop code to the client terminal 1002 via thecommunication control section 1072 and the network interface 1073 inorder. The authentication error information indicates an authenticationerror. The shop code is provided to identify the music data deliveryserver 1004.

At step SP1012, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the authentication error information and the shop codetransmitted from the music data delivery server 1004 via the networkinterface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 in order.According to the received authentication error information, the controlsection 1023 determines that the music data delivery server 1004 doesnot authenticate the user as a registered user. In addition, the controlsection 1023 temporarily stores the shop code received from the musicdata delivery server 1004 in the authentication information storagesection 1038.

The control section 1023 generates an authentication ticket issuancerequest signal that requests the portal server 1003 to issue anauthentication ticket for access to the music data delivery server 1004.The control section 1023 then transmits the generated authenticationticket issuance request signal, the shop code of the music data deliveryserver 1004, the authentication session ID information, and the like tothe portal server 1003 via the communication control section 1032 andthe network interface 1033 in order. It should be noted that theauthentication session ID information and the like are already receivedfrom the portal server 1003 and are temporarily stored in theauthentication information storage section 1038.

At step SP1013, the control section 1050 of the portal server 1003receives the authentication ticket issuance request signal, the shopcode, the authentication session ID information, and the like sent fromthe client terminal 1002 via the network interface 1053 and thecommunication control section 1052 in order. The control section 1050then sends these pieces of information to the authentication processingsection 1056.

Under the control of the control section 1050, the authenticationprocessing section 1056 performs the user authentication process.Specifically, the control section 1056 compares the authenticationsession ID information and the like with the authentication session IDinformation and the like temporarily stored in the authenticationinformation storage section 1057.

As a result, the authentication processing section 1056 may not be ableto authenticate the user of the client terminal 1002 to be a registereduser, e.g., due to expiration of the valid period for the authenticationsession ID information received from the client terminal 1002. In suchcase, the authentication processing section 1056 determines that theclient terminal 1002 issued an invalid acquisition request for theauthentication ticket.

In this case, the control section 1050 sends authentication errorinformation indicating an authentication error to the client terminal1002 via the communication control section 1052 and the networkinterface 1053 in order.

By contrast, there may be a case where the valid period still takeseffect for the authentication session ID information received from theclient terminal 1002. In such case, the authentication processingsection 1056 authenticates the user of the client terminal 1002 to be aregistered user. The authentication processing section 1056 determinesthat the client terminal 1002 issues a valid request for theauthentication ticket. In this case, the control section 1050 moves tostep SP1018 to be described later.

At step SP1014, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the authentication error information sent from the portalserver 1003 via the network interface 1033 and the communication controlsection 1032 in order. The control section 1023 then reads the user IDinformation, the password information, and the like stored in theauthentication information storage section 1038. In addition, thecontrol section 1023 sends the read user ID information, the passwordinformation, and the like to the portal server 1003 via thecommunication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 inorder.

At step SP1015, the control section 1050 of the portal server 1003receives the user ID information, the password information, and the likesent from the client terminal 1002 via the network interface 1053 andthe communication control section 1052 in order. The control section1050 then sends these pieces of information to the authenticationprocessing section 1056.

Under the control of the control section 1050, the authenticationprocessing section 1056 performs the user authentication process.Specifically, the authentication processing section 1056 checks whetheror not the customer information registered to the customer databasesection 1054 contains the received user ID information, the passwordinformation, and the like.

As a result, the authentication processing section 1056 authenticatesthe user of the client terminal 1002 to be a registered user. Under thecontrol of the control section 1050, the authentication processingsection 1056 issues the portal authentication result information, i.e.,the authentication session ID information and the like about the stateof communication connection between the client terminal 1002 and theportal server 1003 at the present time. The authentication processingsection 1056 temporarily stores the issued authentication session IDinformation and the like in the authentication information storagesection 1057.

After the authentication processing section 1056 issues theauthentication session ID information and the like to the clientterminal 1002, the control section 1050 sends the authentication sessionID information and the like to the client terminal 1002 via thecommunication control section 1052 and the network interface 1053 inorder.

At step SP1016, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the authentication session ID information and the like sentfrom the portal server 1003 via the network interface 1033 and thecommunication control section 1032 in order. The authenticationprocessing section 1037 temporarily stores the received authenticationsession ID information and the like in the authentication informationstorage section 1038.

The control section 1023 generates an authentication ticket issuancerequest signal that re-requests the portal server 1003 to issue anauthentication ticket. The control section 1023 sends the generatedauthentication ticket issuance request signal as well as the shop codetemporarily stored in the authentication information storage section1038 and the authentication session ID information and the liketemporarily stored at this time to the portal server 1003 via thecommunication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 inorder.

According to the embodiment, the client terminal 1002 temporarily storesthe shop code in the authentication information storage section 1038.The present invention is not limited thereto. When performing theprocess at steps SP1012 through SP1016, the client terminal 1002 cansequentially exchange the shop code with the portal server 1003. In thismanner, the client terminal 1002 need not temporarily store the shopcode in the authentication information storage section 1038.Nevertheless, it is possible to send the shop code to the portal server1003 at step SP1016.

At step SP1017, the control section 1050 of the portal server 1003receives the authentication ticket issuance request signal, the shopcode, the authentication session ID information, and the like sent fromthe client terminal 1002 via the network interface 1053 and thecommunication control section 1052 in order. The control section 1050sends the received authentication ticket issuance request signal and thelike to the authentication processing section 1056.

Under the control of the control section 1050, the authenticationprocessing section 1056 performs the user authentication process.Specifically, the authentication processing section 1056 compares thereceived authentication session ID information and the like with theauthentication session ID information and the like temporarily stored inthe authentication information storage section 1057.

As a result, there may be a case where the valid period still takeseffect for the authentication session ID information and the likereceived from the client terminal 1002. In such case, the authenticationprocessing section 1056 authenticates the user of the client terminal1002 to be a registered user. The authentication processing section 1056determines that the client terminal 1002 issues a valid request for theauthentication ticket.

At step SP1018, under the control of the control section 1050, based onthe shop code and the authentication ticket issuance request signalreceived from the client terminal 1002 at the above-mentioned stepSP1017. The authentication processing section 1056 issues the portalauthentication result information, i.e., an authentication ticket andthe like to enable access to the music data delivery server 1004indicated by the shop code.

Under the control of the control section 1050, the authenticationprocessing section 1056 temporarily stores the issued authenticationticket and the like in the authentication information storage section1057. In addition, the authentication processing section 1056 extendsthe valid period for the authentication session ID information and thelike issued to the client terminal 1002.

That is to say, the authentication processing section 1056 has issuedthe authentication ticket and the like and extended the valid period ofthe authentication session ID information and the like. Thereafter, thecontrol section 1050 sends these authentication ticket and the like andauthentication session ID information and the like to the clientterminal 1002 via the communication control section 1052 and the networkinterface 1053 in order.

At step SP1019, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the authentication ticket and the like sent from the portalserver 1003 and the authentication session ID information with theextended valid period via the network interface 1033 and thecommunication control section 1032 in order. The control section 1023sends the received authentication session ID information to theauthentication processing section 1037.

The control section 1023 sends the authentication ticket and the likereceived from the portal server 1003 together with the authenticationrequest signal to the music data delivery server 1004 via thecommunication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 inorder.

At this time, under the control of the control section 1023, theauthentication processing section 1037 temporarily stores theauthentication session ID information having the extended valid periodreceived from the portal server 1003 in the authentication informationstorage section 1038 so as to overwrite the authentication session IDinformation having the valid period not extended. In this manner, theauthentication processing section 1037 updates the authenticationsession ID information temporarily stored at the above-mentioned stepSP1016 to the authentication session ID information having the extendedvalid period.

At step SP1020, the control section 1070 of the music data deliveryserver 1004 receives the authentication request signal, theauthentication ticket, and the like transmitted from the client terminal1002 via the network interface 1073 and the communication controlsection 1072 in order.

The control section 1070 transmits the authentication ticket and thelike received from the client terminal 1002 together with anauthentication ticket confirmation request signal for requestingconfirmation of the authentication ticket and the like to the portalserver 1003 via the communication control section 1072 and the networkinterface 1073 in order.

At step SP1021, the control section 1050 of the portal server 1003receives the authentication ticket confirmation request signal, theauthentication ticket, and the like transmitted from the music datadelivery server 1004 via the network interface 1053 and thecommunication control section 1052 in order. The control section 1050then transmits the received authentication ticket confirmation requestsignal, the authentication ticket, and the like to the authenticationprocessing section 1056.

Under the control of the control section 1050, the authenticationprocessing section 1056 performs a confirmation process for theauthentication ticket received from the music data delivery server 1004in response to the authentication ticket confirmation request signal.Specifically, the authentication processing section 1056 compares thereceived authentication ticket and the like with the authenticationticket and the like temporarily stored in the authentication informationstorage section 1057.

As a result, the authentication processing section 1056 confirms thatthe genuine authentication ticket and the like are received from themusic data delivery server 1004. In this case, the control section 1050transmits confirmation result information to the music data deliveryserver 1004 via the communication control section 1052 and the networkinterface 1053 in order. The confirmation result information indicatesthat the received authentication ticket and the like are confirmed to begenuine.

At step SP1022, the control section 1070 of the music data deliveryserver 1004 receives the confirmation result information transmittedfrom the portal server 1003 via the network interface 1073 and thecommunication control section 1072 in order. The control section 1070transmits the received confirmation result information to theauthentication processing section 1075.

Under control of the control section 1070, the authentication processingsection 1075 responds to the confirmation result information and issuesserver authentication result information, i.e., service session IDinformation and the like about the state of communication connectionbetween the client terminal 1002 and the music data delivery server 1004at the present time. In addition, the authentication processing section1075 temporarily stores the issued service session ID information andthe like in the authentication information storage section 1077.

After the authentication processing section 1075 issued the servicesession ID information and the like to the client terminal 1002, thecontrol section 1070 transmits these pieces of information to the clientterminal 1002 via the communication control section 1072 and the networkinterface 1073 in order.

At step SP1023, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the service session ID information and the like sent from themusic data delivery server 1004 via the network interface 1033 and thecommunication control section 1032 in order. The authenticationprocessing section 1037 temporarily stores the received service sessionID information and the like in the authentication information storagesection 1038.

The control section 1023 transmits the page information acquisitionrequest signal, the service session ID information, and the like to themusic data delivery server 1004 via the communication control section1032 and the network interface 1033 in order. The page informationacquisition request signal requests the page information about the musicdata delivery page. The service session ID information is temporarilystored in the authentication information storage section 1038.

As step SP1024, the control section 1070 of the music data deliveryserver 1004 receives the page information acquisition request signal,the service session ID information, and the like transmitted from theclient terminal 1002 via the network interface 1073 and thecommunication control section 1072 in order. The control section 1070then transmits the received service session ID information and the liketo the authentication processing section 1075.

Under the control of the control section 1070, the authenticationprocessing section 1075 performs the user authentication process.Specifically, the control section 1070 compares the received servicesession ID information and the like with the service session IDinformation and the like that are already issued to the client terminal1002 at the above-mentioned step SP1022 and are temporarily stored inthe authentication information storage section 1077.

As a result, there may be a case where the valid period still takeseffect for the service session ID information and the like received fromthe client terminal 1002. In such case, the authentication processingsection 1075 authenticates the user of the client terminal 1002 to be aregistered user. The authentication processing section 1075 determinesthat the client terminal 1002 issues a valid request to acquire the pageinformation about the music data delivery page.

The control section 1070 then proceeds to the next step SP1025. At stepSP1025, the control section 1070 reads the page information about theuser-requested music data delivery page from the page informationstorage section 1076. In addition, the control section 1070 allows theauthentication processing section 1075 to extend the valid period forthe service session ID information and the like issued to the clientterminal 1002.

The control section 1070 transmits the page information about the musicdata delivery page read from the page information storage section 1076together with the service session ID information and the like to theclient terminal 1002 via the communication control section 1072 and thenetwork interface 1073 in order. The service session ID information andthe like have the valid period extended by the authentication processingsection 1075.

At step SP1026, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the page information about the music data delivery page, theservice session ID information having the extended valid period, and thelike from the music data delivery server 1004 via the network interface1033 and the communication control section 1032 in order. The controlsection 1023 transmits the page information about the received musicdata delivery page to the page information generation section 1036. Inaddition, the control section 1023 transmits the received servicesession ID information and the like to the authentication processingsection 1037.

Under the control of the control section 1023, the authenticationprocessing section 1037 temporarily stores the received service sessionID information having the extended valid period and the like in theauthentication information storage section 1038 so as to overwrite theservice session ID information and the like before extension of thevalid period. In this manner, the authentication processing section 1037updates the service session ID information and the like temporarilystored at the above-mentioned step SP1023 to the service session IDinformation having the extended valid period and the like.

Further, the page information generation section 1036 generates videodata based on the page information about the music data delivery page.The page information generation section 1036 transmits the generatedvideo data to the display control section 1024.

The display control section 1024 applies a digital-analog conversionprocess to the video data supplied from the page information generationsection 1036. The display control section 1024 then transmits theobtained analog video signal to the display section 1025. As a result,the display section 1025 displays the music data delivery page as avideo based on the analog video signal.

(2-7-3) Music Related Service Provision Processes

With reference to FIGS. 22 through 25, the following describes musicrelated service provision processes. These processes occur aftercompletion of the user authentication process performed between theclient terminal 1002 and each of the music data delivery server 1004,the trade server 1005, and the radio broadcast information deliveryserver 1006 as mentioned above with reference to FIG. 21. During a musicrelated service provision process, the client terminal 1002 uses pageinformation about music data delivery pages, package media sales pages,and on-air-list information delivery pages. The client terminal 1002acquired the page information during the user authentication processfrom the music data delivery server 1004, the trade server 1005, and theradio broadcast information delivery server 1006. Using that pageinformation and the like, the client terminal 1002 is provided withmusic data delivery services, trade services, and radio broadcastinformation delivery services.

(2-7-3-1) Music Data Delivery Service Provision Process

With reference to FIG. 22, the following describes a music data deliveryservice provision process. During this process, the client terminal 1002is provided with music data delivery services from the music datadelivery server 1004.

For example, the user uses the input processing section 1021 to enter acontrol command to select part of the music data delivery page displayedas video on the display section 1025. At step SP1030, the controlsection 1023 of the client terminal 1002 responds to the entered controlcommand to generate a download request signal that requests to downloadmusic data intended for download.

The control section 1023 transmits the download request signal togetherwith service session ID information and the like to the music datadelivery server 1004 via the communication control section 1032 and thenetwork interface 1033 in order. The service session ID information andthe like are already issued by the music data delivery server 1004 andare temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section1038.

At step SP1031, the control section 1070 of the music data deliveryserver 1004 receives the download request signal, the service session IDinformation, and the like transmitted from the client terminal 1002 viathe network interface 1073 and the communication control section 1072 inorder. The control section 1070 then transmits the received servicesession ID information and the like to the authentication processingsection 1075.

Under the control of the control section 1070, the authenticationprocessing section 1075 performs the user authentication process.Specifically, the authentication processing section 1075 compares thereceived service session ID information and the like with the servicesession ID information and the like temporarily stored in theauthentication information storage section 1077.

As a result, the authentication processing section 1075 may authenticatethe user to be a registered user who requested to download the musicdata using the client terminal 1002. In this case, the control section1070 proceeds to the next step SP1032.

At step SP1032, based on the retrieval key stored in the downloadrequest signal, the retrieval section 1079 searches a plurality ofpieces of music data in the music data storage section 1078 for musicdata intended for download, i.e., one matching a retrieval conditionindicated by the retrieval key.

Let us assume that the retrieval section 1079 retrieves the music data.The control section 1070 allows the authentication processing section1075 to extend the valid period for the service session ID informationand the like issued to the client terminal 1002. The control section1070 then proceeds to the next step SP1033.

At step SP1033, the control section 1070 reads the music data intendedfor download retrieved by the retrieval section 1079 from the music datastorage section 1078. In addition, the control section 1070 transmitsthe read music data intended for download together with the servicesession ID information and the like to the client terminal 1002 via thecommunication control section 1072 and the network interface 1073 inorder. At this time, the service session ID information has the validperiod extended by the authentication processing section 1075.

At step SP1034, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the music data intended for download transmitted from the musicdata delivery server 1004, the service session ID information having theextended valid period, and the like via the network interface 1033 andthe communication control section 1032 in order. The control section1023 stores the received music data in the storage medium 1029. Inaddition, the control section 1023 transmits the received servicesession ID information and the like to the authentication processingsection 1037.

Under the control of the control section 1023, the authenticationprocessing section 1037 temporarily stores the received service sessionID information having the extended valid period and the like in theauthentication information storage section 1038 so as to overwrite theservice session ID information and the like before extension of thevalid period. In this manner, the authentication processing section 1037updates the contents of the service session ID information and the liketemporarily stored in the authentication information storage section1038.

In this manner, the client terminal 1002 can download user-specifiedmusic data using the music data delivery service provided from the musicdata delivery server 1004.

(2-7-3-2) Trade Service Provision Process

With reference to FIG. 23, the following describes a trade serviceprovision process during which the client terminal 1002 is provided withtrade services from the trade server 1005.

For example, the user uses the input processing section 1021 to enter acontrol command to select part of the package media sales page displayedas video on the display section 1025. At step SP1040, the controlsection 1023 of the client terminal 1002 generates a media informationrequest signal that requests package media information about a specificpackage media corresponding to the entered control command.

The control section 1023 transmits the media information request signaltogether with service session ID information and the like to the tradeserver 1005 via the communication control section 1032 and the networkinterface 1033 in order. The service session ID information and the likeare already issued by the trade server 1005 and are temporarily storedin the authentication information storage section 1038.

At step SP1041, the control section 1090 of the trade server 1005receives the media information request signal, the service session IDinformation, and the like transmitted from the client terminal 1002 viathe network interface 1093 and the communication control section 1092 inorder. The control section 1090 then transmits the received servicesession ID information and the like to the authentication processingsection 1095.

Under the control of the control section 1090, the authenticationprocessing section 1095 performs the user authentication process.Specifically, the authentication processing section 1095 compares thereceived service session ID information and the like with the servicesession ID information and the like temporarily stored in theauthentication information storage section 1097.

As a result, the authentication processing section 1095 may authenticatethe user to be a registered user who requested the package mediainformation about the package media using the client terminal 1002. Inthis case, the control section 1090 proceeds to the next step SP1042.

At step SP1042, based on the retrieval key stored in the mediainformation request signal, the retrieval section 1099 searches aplurality of pieces of package media information in the package mediainformation storage section 1098 for package media information about thespecific package media, i.e., one matching a retrieval conditionindicated by the retrieval key.

Let us assume that the retrieval section 1099 retrieves the packagemedia information. The control section 1090 allows the authenticationprocessing section 1095 to extend the valid period for the servicesession ID information and the like issued to the client terminal 1002.The control section 1090 then proceeds to the next step SP1043.

At step SP1043, the control section 1090 reads the package mediainformation retrieved by the retrieval section 1099 from the packagemedia information storage section 1098. In addition, the control section1090 transmits the read package media information together with theservice session ID information and the like to the client terminal 1002via the communication control section 1092 and the network interface1093 in order. At this time, the service session ID information has thevalid period extended by the authentication processing section 1095.

At step SP1044, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the package media information transmitted from the trade server1005, the service session ID information having the extended validperiod, and the like via the network interface 1033 and thecommunication control section 1032 in order. The control section 1023transmits the received package media information to the page informationgeneration section 1036. In addition, the control section 1023 transmitsthe received service session ID information and the like to theauthentication processing section 1037.

Under the control of the control section 1023, the authenticationprocessing section 1037 temporarily stores the received service sessionID information having the extended valid period and the like in theauthentication information storage section 1038 so as to overwrite theservice session ID information and the like before extension of thevalid period. In this manner, the authentication processing section 1037updates the contents of the service session ID information and the liketemporarily stored in the authentication information storage section1038.

The page information generation section 1036 generates video data basedon the package media information supplied from the control section 1023.The display control section 1024 converts the generated video data intoan analog video signal and transmits it to the display section 1025.

In this manner, the control section 1023 allows the display section 1025to display the package media information as a video based on the analogvideo signal. The control section 1023 then proceeds to the next stepSP1045.

Let us assume that the user uses the input processing section 1021 toenter a control command to request to purchase a package mediacorresponding to the package media information displayed as video on thedisplay section 1025. At step SP1045, the control section 1023 respondsto the entered control command and generates a purchase request signalto request to purchase the package media.

The control section 1023 transmits the purchase request signal togetherwith service session ID information (i.e., having the extended validperiod) and the like to the trade server 1005 via the communicationcontrol section 1032 and the network interface 1033 in order. Theservice session ID information and the like are already received fromthe trade server 1005 and are temporarily stored in the authenticationinformation storage section 1038.

At step SP1046, the control section 1090 of the trade server 1005receives the purchase request signal, the service session IDinformation, and the like transmitted from the client terminal 1002 viathe network interface 1093 and the communication control section 1092 inorder. The control section 1090 then transmits the received servicesession ID information and the like to the authentication processingsection 1095.

Under the control of the control section 1090, the authenticationprocessing section 1095 performs the user authentication process.Specifically, the authentication processing section 1095 compares thereceived service session ID information and the like with the servicesession ID information and the like temporarily stored in theauthentication information storage section 1097.

As a result, the authentication processing section 1095 may authenticatethe user to be a registered user who requested to purchase the packagemedia using the client terminal 1002. In this case, the control section1090 proceeds to the next step SP1047.

At step SP1047, the control section 1090 performs purchase processessuch as shipping the requested package media to the user of the clientterminal 1002. The control section 1090 transmits charging informationto the charging server 1008 via the communication control section 1092and the network interface 1093 in order. The charging information isused to charge the user who purchased the package medium. In thismanner, the control section 1090 allows the charging server 1008 toperform a charging process corresponding to the user's purchase of thepackage medium.

Further, the control section 1090 allows the authentication processingsection 1090 to extend the valid period of the service session IDinformation and the like issued to the client terminal 1002.

After terminating the charging process, at step SP1048, the controlsection 1090 transmits purchase completion information as well as theservice session ID information and the like to the client terminal 1002via the communication control section 1092 and the network interface1093 in order. At this time, the purchase completion informationindicates completion of the package media purchase process. Theauthentication processing section 1095 has extended the valid period ofthe service session ID information.

At step SP1049, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the purchase completion information and the service session IDinformation and the like via the network interface 1033 and thecommunication control section 1032 in order. The purchase completioninformation is transmitted from the trade server 1005. The servicesession ID information has the extended valid period. The controlsection 1023 then transmits the received purchase completion informationto the page information generation section 1036. In addition, thecontrol section 1023 transmits the service session ID information andthe like received from the trade server 1005 to the authenticationprocessing section 1037.

Under the control of the control section 1023, the authenticationprocessing section 1037 temporarily stores the received service sessionID information having the extended valid period and the like in theauthentication information storage section 1038 so as to overwrite theservice session ID information and the like before extension of thevalid period. In this manner, the authentication processing section 1037updates the contents of the service session ID information and the liketemporarily stored in the authentication information storage section1038.

Further, the page information generation section 1036 generates videodata based on the purchase completion information supplied from thecontrol section 1023. The display control section 1024 converts thegenerated video data into an analog video signal and transmits it to thedisplay section 1025.

The control section 1023 allows the display section 1025 to display thepurchase completion page as a video based on the analog video signal.

In this manner, the client terminal 1002 can allow the user to purchaseintended package media using the trade service provided by the tradeserver 1005.

(2-7-3-3) On-Air-List Information Delivery Service Provision Process

With reference to FIG. 24, the following describes the radio broadcastinformation delivery service provision process. During this process, theclient terminal 1002 is provided with a radio broadcast informationdelivery service, especially an on-air-list information delivery servicefrom the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006.

For example, the user enters retrieval key to retrieve intendedon-air-list information into an input box of the on-air-list informationdelivery page displayed as a video on the display section 1025. Acontrol command corresponding to a character string indicating theentered retrieval key is input through the input processing section1021. At step SP1060, the control section 1023 of the client terminal1002 responds to the entered control command and generates anon-air-list information request signal to request download of theintended on-air-list information.

The control section 1023 sends the on-air-list information requestsignal together with the service session ID information and the like tothe radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 via thecommunication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 inorder. The service session ID information and the like are alreadyissued by the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 and aretemporarily stored in the authentication information storage section1038.

At step SP1061, the control section 1110 of the radio broadcastinformation delivery server 1006 receives the on-air-list informationrequest signal, the service session ID information, and the like sentfrom the client terminal 1002 via the network interface 1113 and thecommunication control section 1112 in order. The control section 1110then sends the received service session ID information and the like tothe authentication processing section 1115.

Under the control of the control section 1110, the authenticationprocessing section 1115 performs the user authentication process.Specifically, the authentication processing section 1115 compares thereceived service session ID information and the like with the servicesession ID information and the like temporarily stored in theauthentication information storage section 1120.

As a result, the authentication processing section 1115 may authenticatethe user to be a registered user who requested the on-air-listinformation using the client terminal 1002. In this case, the controlsection 1110 proceeds to the next step SP1062.

At step SP1062, based on the retrieval key stored in the on-air-listinformation request signal, the retrieval section 1118 searches theentire on-air-list information in the on-air-list information storagesection 1117 for the targeted on-air-list information within a specifiedrange corresponding to the retrieval condition indicated by theretrieval key.

Let us assume that the retrieval section 1118 retrieves the on-air-listinformation. The control section 1110 allows the authenticationprocessing section 1115 to extend the valid period for the servicesession ID information and the like issued to the client terminal 1002.The control section 1110 then proceeds to the next step SP1063.

At step SP1063, the control section 1110 reads the on-air-listinformation retrieved by the retrieval section 1118 from the on-air-listinformation storage section 1117. In addition, the control section 1110sends the read on-air-list information together with the service sessionID information and the like to the client terminal 1002 via thecommunication control section 1112 and the network interface 1113 inorder. At this time, the service session ID information has the validperiod extended by the authentication processing section 1115.

At step SP1064, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the on-air-list information sent from the radio broadcastinformation delivery server 1006, the service session ID informationhaving the extended valid period, and the like via the network interface1033 and the communication control section 1032 in order. The controlsection 1023 sends the received on-air-list information to the pageinformation generation section 1036. In addition, the control section1023 sends the service session ID information and the like received fromthe radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 to theauthentication processing section 1037.

Under the control of the control section 1023, the authenticationprocessing section 1037 temporarily stores the received service sessionID information having the extended valid period in the authenticationinformation storage section 1038 so as to overwrite the service sessionID information having the valid period not extended. In this manner, theauthentication processing section 1037 updates the contents of theservice session ID information and the like temporarily stored in theauthentication information storage section 1038.

The page information generation section 1036 generates video data basedon the on-air-list information supplied from the control section 1023.The display control section 1024 converts the generated video data intoan analog video signal and sends it to the display section 1025. Thedisplay section 1025 displays the on-air-list information as a videobased on the analog video signal.

In this manner, the client terminal 1002 can allow the user to acquireintended on-air-list information by using the radio broadcastinformation delivery service provided by the radio broadcast informationdelivery server 1006.

(2-7-3-4) Now-On-Air Information Delivery Service Provision Process

With reference to FIG. 25, the following describes a radio broadcastinformation delivery service provision process. During this process, theclient terminal 1002 is provided with a radio broadcast informationdelivery service, especially a now-on-air information delivery servicefrom the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006.

The radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 to supplynow-on-air information is provided for each radio station (call sign).

Initially, the client terminal 1002 may not store URL information aboutthe radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 corresponding toeach radio station.

The following radio broadcast information delivery service provisionprocess exemplifies a case where the portal server 1003 manages URLinformation about each radio broadcast information delivery server 1006for each call sign.

According to the radio broadcast information delivery service provisionprocess, the client terminal 1002 may need to automatically preset abroadcast frequency for each radio station. For this purpose, the clientterminal 1002 requests the portal server 1003 for frequency informationindicating that broadcast frequency. In such case, it is assumed thatthe authentication information storage section 1038 does not temporarilystore the authentication session ID information and the like.Consequently, the client terminal 1002 first needs to send the user IDinformation, the password information, and the like to the portal server1003.

When the input processing section 1021 inputs an operation command torequest to automatically preset the broadcast frequency of each radiostation. In response to this command, at step SP1070, the controlsection 1023 of the client terminal 1002 sends a frequency informationrequest signal to request to acquire frequency information about abroadcast frequency which each radio station can receive. The controlsection 1023 sends the frequency information request signal togetherwith an area code input by the user, the user ID information, thepassword information, and the like stored in the authenticationinformation storage section 1038 to the portal server 1003 via thecommunication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 inorder.

At step SP1071, the control section 1050 of the portal server 1003receives the frequency information request signal, the area code, theuser ID information, the password information, and the like sent fromthe client terminal 1002 via the network interface 1053 and thecommunication control section 1052 in order. Of these pieces ofinformation, the control section 1050 sends the user ID information, thepassword information, and the like to the authentication processingsection 1056.

Under the control of the control section 1050, the authenticationprocessing section 1056 performs the user authentication process.Specifically, the authentication processing section 1056 compares thereceived user ID information, the password information, and the likewith the customer information registered in the customer databasesection 1054.

As a result, the authentication processing section 1056 may authenticatethe user of the client terminal 1002 to be a registered user. Further,the authentication processing section 1056 may determine that the clientterminal 1002 issued a valid request to acquire the frequencyinformation. Under the control of the control section 1050, theauthentication processing section 1056 issues the authentication sessionID information and the like about the state of communication connectionbetween the client terminal 1002 and the portal server 1003 at thepresent time. The authentication processing section 1056 temporarilystores the issued authentication session ID information and the like inthe authentication information storage section 1057.

The control section 1050 then proceeds to the next step SP1072. At stepSP1072, the control section 1050 performs a search based on the areacode received from the client terminal 1002. That is to say, the controlsection 1050 searches a list of a plurality of frequency information,radio station names, and call signs in the frequency information storagesection 1058 for those corresponding to the area code and reads them ina list format.

The control section 1050 reads the frequency information, the radiostation name, and the call sign in a list form from the frequencyinformation storage section 1058 and sends them along with theauthentication session ID information and the like to the clientterminal 1002 via the communication control section 1052 and the networkinterface 1053 in order. The authentication session ID information andthe like were issued to the client terminal 1002 by the authenticationprocessing section 1056 at the above-mentioned step SP1071.

At step SP 1073, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the list of frequency information, radio station name, and callsign sent from the portal server 1003 as well as the authenticationsession ID information and the like via the network interface 1033 andthe communication control section 1032 in order. The control section1023 sends the authentication session ID information and the likereceived from the portal server 1003 to the authentication processingsection 1037. In addition, the control section 1023 sends the list offrequency information, radio station name, and call sign to the displaycontrol section 1024.

Under the control of the control section 1023, the authenticationprocessing section 1037 temporarily stores the received authenticationsession ID information and the like in the authentication informationstorage section 1038.

The display control section 1024 is supplied with the list of frequencyinformation, radio station name, and call sign from the control section1023 and sends the list to the display section 1025. The display section1025 thus displays the list.

At this time, the control section 1023 identifies a selection commandsupplied from the input processing section 1021. Based on this command,the control section 1023 stores the selected frequency information,radio station name, and call sign as a preset in the storage medium1029. The control section 1023 then proceeds to the next step SP1074.

At step SP1074, the control section 1023 identifies a tuning controlcommand supplied from the input processing section 1021. Based on thiscommand, the control section 1023 controls the tuner section 1031 so asto extract a radio broadcasting signal from radio broadcasting waves.This radio broadcasting signal should be used for the radio broadcastcarried at the broadcast frequency corresponding to the tuning controlcommand.

A broadcast signal reception section 30 receives radio broadcastingwaves. Of these radio broadcasting waves, the tuner section 1031extracts the radio broadcasting signal carried at the broadcastfrequency. The tuner section 1031 applies specified reception processessuch as decoding to the extracted radio broadcasting signal. As aresult, audio data is generated. The tuner section 1031 sends this audiodata to the audio control section 1026.

The audio control section 1026 converts the audio data supplied from thetuner section 1031 into an analog audio signal. Then, the audio controlsection 1026 outputs the analog audio signal to the speaker 1027. Thespeaker 1027 thus outputs audio of the selected radio program.

At step SP1075, under the control of the control section 1023, the radiobroadcasting display control section 1039 reads a call sign from thestorage medium 1029. This call sign is stored correspondingly to thefrequency information indicating the broadcast frequency correspondingto the above-mentioned tuning control command. The radio broadcastingdisplay control section 1039 sends the read call sign to the portalserver 1003 via the communication control section 1032 and the networkinterface 1033 in order. Likewise, the radio broadcasting displaycontrol section 1039 sends authentication session ID information and thelike temporarily stored in the authentication information storagesection 1038.

At step SP1076, the control section 1050 of the portal server 1003receives the call sign, the authentication session ID information, andthe like sent from the client terminal 1002 via the network interface1053 and the communication control section 1052 in order. The controlsection 1050 sends the received authentication session ID informationand the like to the authentication processing section 1056.

Under the control of the control section 1050, the authenticationprocessing section 1056 performs the user authentication process.Specifically, the authentication processing section 1056 compares thereceived authentication session ID information and the like with thereceived authentication session ID information and the like temporarilystored in the authentication information storage section 1057.

As a result, the authentication processing section 1056 may confirm thatthe authentication session ID information and the like are received fromthe client terminal 1002 within the valid period. When the user sent thecall sign using the client terminal 1002, the authentication processingsection 1056 may authenticate this user to be a registered user. In suchcase, the control section 1050 proceeds to the next step SP1077.

At step SP1077, the control section 1050 searches a plurality of URLinformation in the URL storage section 1059 for the URL informationcorresponding to the call sign based on the call sign received from theclient terminal 1002.

The control section 1050 allows the authentication processing section1056 to extend the valid period of the authentication session IDinformation and the like issued to the client terminal 1002.

The control section 1050 reads the retrieved URL information from theURL storage section 1059. The control section 1050 sends the read URLinformation as well as the authentication session ID information and thelike having the valid period extended by the authentication processingsection 1056 to the client terminal 1002 via the communication controlsection 1052 and the network interface 1053 in order.

At step SP1078, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the URL information and the authentication session IDinformation having the extended valid period and the like sent from theportal server 1003 via the network interface 1033 and the communicationcontrol section 1032 in order. The control section 1023 sends thereceived authentication session ID information and the like to theauthentication processing section 1037. The control section 1023 sendsthe URL information to the radio broadcasting display control section1039.

Under the control of the control section 1023, the authenticationprocessing section 1037 temporarily stores the received authenticationsession ID information having the extended valid period in theauthentication information storage section 1038 to overwrite theauthentication session ID information having the valid period notextended. In this manner, the authentication processing section 1037updates the contents of the authentication session ID information andthe like temporarily stored in the authentication information storagesection 1038.

Under the control of the control section 1023, the radio broadcastingdisplay control section 1039 temporarily stores the URL informationsupplied from the control section 1023 in the storage medium 1029 andthe like correspondingly to the call sign stored in the storage medium1029.

Under the control of the control section 1023, the radio broadcastingdisplay control section 1039 follows the URL information temporarilystored in the storage medium 1029 and the like. According to thisinformation, the radio broadcasting display control section 1039 sends anow-on-air information request signal to the radio broadcast informationdelivery server 1006 via the communication control section 1032 and thenetwork interface 1033 in order. The now-on-air information requestsignal requests to acquire the now-on-air information. Likewise, theradio broadcasting display control section 1039 sends the servicesession ID information and the like that are already received from theradio broadcast information delivery server 1006 and are temporarilystored in the authentication information storage section 1038.

In the radio broadcast information delivery service provision process,at step SP1078, the client terminal 1002 sends the now-on-airinformation request signal, the service session ID information, and thelike to the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006. Thisprocess corresponds to the process at step SP1010 in FIG. 21 asmentioned above.

Therefore, in the radio broadcast information delivery service provisionprocess, the process at step SP1078 is followed by the userauthentication process equivalent to steps SP1011 through SP1013 andsteps SP1018 through SP1022 in the client terminal 1002, the radiobroadcast information delivery server 1006, and the portal server 1003as mentioned above with reference to FIG. 21. After these steps areperformed in succession, control proceeds to the next step SP1079.

At step SP1079, under the control of the control section 1023, the radiobroadcasting display control section 1039 of the client terminal 1002again follows the URL information temporarily stored in the storagemedium 1029 and the like and sends a now-on-air information requestsignal to the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 via thecommunication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 inorder. Likewise, the radio broadcasting display control section 1039sends the service session ID information and the like that are alreadyreceived from the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 andare temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section1038.

At step SP1080, the control section 1110 of the radio broadcastinformation delivery server 1006 receives the now-on-air informationrequest signal, the service session ID information, and the like sentfrom the client terminal 1002 via the network interface 1113 and thecommunication control section 1112 in order. The control section 1110sends the received authentication session ID information and the like tothe authentication processing section 1115.

Under the control of the control section 1110, the authenticationprocessing section 1115 performs the user authentication process.Specifically, the authentication processing section 1115 compares thereceived service session ID information and the like with the servicesession ID information and the like temporarily stored in theauthentication information storage section 1120.

As a result, the authentication processing section 1115 may authenticatethe user of the client terminal 1002 to be a registered user. In thiscase, the authentication processing section 1115 determines that theclient terminal 1002 issued the valid request to acquire the now-on-airinformation.

When the authentication processing section 1115 authenticates the userof the client terminal 1002 to be a registered user. In this case, thecontrol section 1110 extends the valid period of the service session IDinformation and the like issued to the client terminal 1002 by theauthentication processing section 1115, and then proceeds to the nextstep SP1081.

At step SP1081, the control section 1110 reads the now-on-airinformation from the now-on-air information storage section 1119. Thecontrol section 1110 sends the read now-on-air information as well asthe service session ID information and the like having the valid periodextended by the authentication processing section 1115 to the clientterminal 1002 via the communication control section 1112 and the networkinterface 1113 in order.

At step SP1082, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002receives the now-on-air information and the service session IDinformation and the like having the extended valid period sent from theradio broadcast information delivery server 1006 via the networkinterface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 in order. Thecontrol section 1023 sends the received service session ID informationand the like to the authentication processing section 1037. The controlsection 1023 sends the now-on-air information to the radio broadcastingdisplay control section 1039.

Under the control of the control section 1023, the authenticationprocessing section 1037 temporarily stores the received service sessionID information having the extended valid period and the like in theauthentication information storage section 1038 to overwrite the servicesession ID information having the valid period not extended. In thismanner, the authentication processing section 1037 updates the contentsof the service session ID information and the like temporarily stored inthe authentication information storage section 1038.

Further, the radio broadcasting display control section 1039 sends thenow-on-air information supplied from the control section 1023 to thedisplay section 1025 via the display control section 1024. In thismanner, the display section 1025 is allowed to display the now-on-airinformation concerning the radio program in the currently received radiobroadcast.

In the radio broadcast information delivery service provision process,the client terminal 1002 thereafter periodically repeats the acquisitionrequest for now-on-air information at step SP1079. The radio broadcastinformation delivery server 1006 receives the acquisition request fromthe client terminal 1002 and successively performs the process at stepsSP1080 and SP1081.

In this manner, the client terminal 1002 can realtime update thenow-on-air information and display it on the display section 1025 of theclient terminal 1002. For example, the now-on-air information includesthe name of the currently received radio program, the program broadcaststart time, the program broadcast end time, the title and artist name ofa musical composition currently played in the radio program, and themusical composition broadcast start time.

With the above-mentioned configuration, the content sales systemaccording to the second embodiment can also provide the same effect asfor the above-mentioned first embodiment.

According to the description of the above-mentioned first embodiment,the program modules for the client terminal CT (FIG. 7) include the HTTPmessage program 36 and the communicator program 37. These programmodules can implement the same functions as the communication controlsection 1032 (FIG. 15) of the client terminal 1002 according to thesecond embodiment.

The content reproduction module 38 (FIG. 7) is a program module capableof implementing the same functions as the encoder/decoder section 1034(FIG. 15).

The copyright protection information management module 39 (FIG. 7) is aprogram module capable of implementing the same functions as thecopyright management section 1035 (FIG. 15).

The Internet radio channel selection/reproduction module 43 (FIG. 7) isa program module capable of implementing the same functions as thecontrol section 1023 and the audio control section 1026 (FIG. 15).

The musical composition purchase/reproduction module 44 (FIG. 7) is aprogram module capable of implementing the same functions as the controlsection 1023 and the audio control section 1026 (FIG. 15).

The XML browser 50 (FIG. 7) is a program module capable of implementingthe same functions as the input processing section 1021 and the pageinformation generation section 1036 (FIG. 15).

The hard disk contents controller 42, the database access module 40, andthe content data access module 41 (FIG. 7) are program modules capableof implementing the same functions as the control section 1023 (FIG.15).

The authentication library 47A of the library 47 (FIG. 7) is a programmodule capable of implementing the same functions as the authenticationprocessing section 1037 and the authentication information storagesection 1038 (FIG. 15).

The clip library 47B of the library 47 (FIG. 7) is a program modulecapable of implementing the same functions as the control section 1023(FIG. 15).

The associated information display module 45 (FIG. 7) is a programmodule capable of implementing the same functions as the radiobroadcasting display control section 1039 (FIG. 15).

The tuner selection/reproduction/recording module 46 (FIG. 7) is aprogram module capable of implementing the same functions as the controlsection 1023, the audio control section 1026, and the tuner section 1031(FIG. 15).

The audio user interface 51 (FIG. 7) is a program module capable ofimplementing the same functions as the input processing section 1021,the control section 1023, and the display control section 1024 (FIG.15).

The CD reproduction module 48 (FIG. 7) is a program module capable ofimplementing the same functions as the audio control section 1026 andthe external recording media recording and reproducing section 1028(FIG. 15).

The HDD reproduction module 49 (FIG. 7) is a program module capable ofimplementing the same functions as the control section 1023 and theaudio control section 1026 (FIG. 15).

That is to say, the terminal 42 has the hardware circuit blockconfiguration according to the first embodiment as mentioned above.Since the CPU 11 uses various program modules, the terminal 42 canimplement the same processes as the client terminal 1002 having thefunctional circuit block configuration according to the secondembodiment.

By the way, in the aforementioned associated information provisionserver KS (FIG. 3) of the first embodiment, the control section 90controls each circuit section according to various programs stored inthe ROM 91 or the like. Thereby, similar functions to the communicationcontrol section 1112, the authentication processing section 1115, theretrieval section 1118, and the like of the radio broadcast informationdelivery server 1006 (FIG. 19) can be realized. Further, similarfunctions to the page information storage section 1116, theauthentication information storage section 1120, the customer databasesection 1114, the now-on-air information storage section 1119, theon-air-list information storage section 1117, and the like of the radiobroadcast information delivery server 1006 (FIG. 19) and the like can berealized by the CD title information provision database 96, the musicalcomposition information database 93, and the program informationdatabase 94, under the control of the control section 90.

Furthermore, in the aforementioned CD seller server 31 (FIG. 4) of thefirst embodiment, the CPU 110 controls each circuit section according tovarious programs stored in the ROM 111 or the like. Thereby, similarfunctions to the communication control section 1092, the authenticationprocessing section 1095, the retrieval section 1099, and the like of thetrade server 1005 (FIG. 18) can be realized. Further, similar functionsto the authentication information storage section 1097, the packagemedia information storage section 1098, the page information storagesection 1096, the customer database section 1094, and the like of thetrade server 1005 (FIG. 18) can be realized by the CD retrieval database113, and the account database 114 of the CD seller server 31 (FIG. 4),under the control of the CPU 110.

(3) Other Embodiments

In the aforementioned embodiments, it has dealt with the case whereretrieval results having variety can be obtained by that the clientterminal CT transmits a part of associated information representingartist name, the supplier of the associated information, and mediaidentification information as retrieval keys to the CD seller server 31.However, the present invention is not only limited to this but alsotitle may be transmitted as a retrieval key instead of or in addition tothe artist name.

In the aforementioned embodiments, it has dealt with the case where theCD seller server 31 reports a part of associated informationrepresenting the supplier (radio station name) of the associatedinformation as sales results to the radio station RS. However, thepresent invention is not only limited to this but also the supplier ofthe associated information may be transmitted to various contentsprovision means other than the radio station name, such as televisionstation name, Internet radio station name, and Web site name performingEMD (Electronic Music Distribution).

In the aforementioned embodiments, it has dealt with the case where theCPU 11 expands a communication program previously stored in the ROM 13on the RAM 20, and executes a retrieval sequence using theaforementioned associated information according to the communicationprogram. However, the present invention is not only limited to this butalso a retrieval sequence can be executed by installing program storagemedia storing a communication program in the client terminal CT.

In the aforementioned embodiments, it has dealt with the case wheremusical composition information in the table 121 is managed in adirectory by the clipping information database 120. However, the presentinvention is not only limited to this but also retrieval results of CDsprovided from the CD seller server 31 may be managed in a directory anddisplayed. Thereby, the user can comparatively easily search for adesired CD from the varietized many kinds of retrieval resultsdisplayed.

In the aforementioned embodiments, it has dealt with the case whereassociated information about CDs is acquired from the CD titleinformation provision database 96 created in the associated informationprovision server KS. However, the present invention is not only limitedto this but also a CD title information provision database may bepreviously created and stored in the hard disk drive 21 of the clientterminal CT, and associated information may be acquired from thedatabase.

Further, in the aforementioned embodiments, it has dealt with the casewhere the associated information about CDs is acquired from the CD titleinformation provision database 96 created in the associated informationprovision server KS. However, the present invention is not only limitedto this but also a client terminal may directly access to a dedicated CDtitle information provision server (not shown) created on the network,and may acquire associated information from the server.

In the aforementioned embodiments, it has dealt with the case where theclient terminal CT serving as a communication terminal apparatusaccording to the present invention is composed of the CPU 11 and thecommunication processing section 22 serving as request means, the CPU 11and the hard disk drive 21 serving as associated information acquisitionmeans, and the CPU 11 and the communication processing section 22serving as search means. However, the present invention is not onlylimited to this but also a communication terminal apparatus may beformed with various circuit configurations other than this.

In the aforementioned embodiments, radiobroadcast from radio stationshas been applied to broadcast that can be received by the clientterminals 1002, CT. However, it is not only limited to this but also theclient terminal 1002, CT may receive Internet radiobroadcast, satelliteradiobroadcast, and the like, and may acquire associated informationabout it (radiobroadcast information). Also, the client terminal 1002,CT may receive television broadcast by television broadcast stations,and may acquire various broadcast information related to televisionprograms in the television broadcast, from a server on the network.

In the aforementioned embodiments, it has dealt with the case where ahardware circuit block, a function circuit block and a program moduleare mounted on the client terminals 1002, CT. However, the presentinvention is not only limited to this but also they may be mounted onvarious terminals other than the client terminals 1002, CT, such as aportable telephone set, and a personal computer. Similar processing tothe aforementioned client terminals 1002, CT can be realized, providedthat the terminal have a hardware circuit block, a function circuitblock and a program module.

In the aforementioned embodiments, it has dealt with the case where theradio broadcast information delivery server 1006 (associated informationprovision server KS) is applied to a first server, the trade server 1005(CD seller server 31) is applied to a second server, and the portalserver 1003 is applied to a third server. However, the present inventionis not only limited to this but also various configuration other thanthis may be applied.

INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATION

The communication method according to the present invention can beapplied to the purpose of, for example, retrieving a CD based onassociated information about musical compositions in a broadcastprogram.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 . . . INFORMATION PROVISION SYSTEM, 2 . . . NETWORK, RS . . . RADIOSTATION, KS . . . ASSOCIATED INFORMATION PROVISION SERVER, 31 . . . CDSELLER SERVER, 1000 . . . MUSIC RELATED SERVICE PROVISION SYSTEM, 1002 .. . CLIENT TERMINAL, 1003 . . . PORTAL SERVER, 1004 . . . MUSIC DATADELIVERY SERVER, 1005 . . . TRADE SERVER, 1006 . . . RADIO BROADCASTINFORMATION DELIVERY SERVER, 1007 . . . INTERNET RADIO SERVER, 1008 . .. CHARGING SERVER.

1. A communication terminal apparatus, comprising: a request unitconfigured to request an associated information provision server forassociated information about contents broadcast in a broadcastingprogram being received; an acquiring unit configured to acquire theassociated information corresponding to said request from saidassociated information provision server; a storage unit configured tostore the associated information; and a transmitting unit configured totransmit a part of said associated information as retrieval keys forretrieving said contents to a contents retrieval server, and obtainingretrieval results from said contents retrieval server.
 2. Thecommunication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidacquiring unit acquires associated information including contentsidentification information to identify said contents is acquired fromsaid associated information provision server, and said contentsidentification information being the part of said associated informationis transmitted as said retrieval keys to said contents retrieval serverby said transmitting unit.
 3. The communication terminal apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said acquiring unit acquires saidassociated information including broadcasting station identificationinformation to identify a broadcasting station that broadcasts saidcontents from said associated information provision server, and saidtransmitting unit transmits said broadcasting station identificationinformation being the part of said associated information as saidretrieval keys to said contents retrieval server.
 4. The communicationterminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said acquiring unitacquires said associated information including media identificationinformation showing a kind of recording media storing said contents fromsaid associated information provision server; and said transmitting unittransmits said media identification information being the part of saidassociated information as said retrieval keys to said contents retrievalserver.
 5. The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said acquiring unit acquires said associated informationincluding supplier identification information showing the supplier ofsaid contents from said associated information provision server, andsaid transmitting unit transmits said supplier identificationinformation being the part of said associated information as saidretrieval keys to said contents retrieval server.
 6. The communicationterminal apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a displayunit configured to display said stored associated information based oncommon keywords by dividing into directories.